Rain can’t stop Jannik Sinner as he beats Jiri Lehecka for Miami title

World No. 2 Jannik Sinner savoured a “special moment” as he defeated Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-4 to claim the Miami Masters 1000 title for the second time on Sunday, adding it to his Indian Wells triumph.

The Italian had to navigate rain delays before and during the match but still completed the coveted “Sunshine Double,” becoming the first man since Roger Federer in 2017 to win both elite hard-court events back-to-back—and the first to do so without dropping a set.

Sinner, who also won Miami in 2024 but missed last year due to a three-month suspension, has now claimed three consecutive Masters 1000 tournaments, beginning with Paris last year. “It’s a very, very special moment,” he said. “Performing so well here after Indian Wells means a lot. It’s something I never imagined I could achieve—it’s not easy.”

The Italian’s win, combined with Aryna Sabalenka’s victory over Coco Gauff on Saturday, marks the first time since 2016 that both men’s and women’s players have swept Indian Wells and Miami in the same year, a feat last done by Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka. Sinner’s success also allows him to close in on Carlos Alcaraz in the race for world No. 1 ahead of the clay-court season.

Early rain showers delayed the match for more than an hour, halting play after Sinner secured the first set. Despite the interruptions, the 24-year-old remained unfazed, firing 10 aces and winning 33 of 36 points on his first serve. He broke Lehecka’s serve in the opening set for a 2-1 lead and overcame a 0-40 deficit in the next game with a mix of aces and service winners.

“Staying focused was key,” Sinner said. “The conditions were tricky at first with heavy balls, and I missed some first serves. Lehecka’s aggressive returns meant I had to be precise.”

Lehecka, making his first Masters 1000 final, had several chances but Sinner converted the decisive break in the second set to take a 5-4 lead and eventually clinch the match at the net.

Despite the loss, the 22nd-ranked Czech will rise to a career-high No. 14 in the world. “I came here struggling with my form but managed to return to the tennis I wanted to play,” Lehecka said during the trophy presentation.