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Neither the rain nor Lehecka can prevent the 'Sunsinner' Double

The Italian makes history with his first Sunshine Double after winning the title in Miami and putting on another service exhibition against Lehecka in a final interrupted by rain.

Neither the rain nor Lehecka can avoid the 'Sunsinner' Double. Photo: Gettyimages

A whirlwind passed through Miami and its name was Jannik Sinner. The Italian, after a very complete week, with excellent serving and incisive returns, achieves the Sunshine Double (winning Indian Wells and Miami in the same year) after a final that suffered the harshness of the rain, but did not prevent the exhibition of the world number two on serve (6-4, 6-4) in the face of the frustration of a Jiri Lehecka who could not do more in his first Masters 1000 final.

Between clouds, rain, storms, and a one-hour delay, the great final of the 2026 Miami Open between Jannik Sinner and Jiri Lehecka began. A duel between the top favorite and one of the tournament's surprises, who reached the final without losing his serve throughout the tournament.

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Ni la lluvia ni Lehecka pueden evitar el ‘Sunsinner’ Double

How Jannik Sinner achieved the Miami Open title against Jiri Lehecka

The Italian, aware that he was on the verge of making history and achieving the Sunshine Double, and that Florida's weather instability could delay the final several times, shifted gears. If the Czech didn't know what it was like to lose his serve during the Miami Open, he would experience it in the third game of the final. Sinner's message was crystal clear: he wanted the title, and the sooner, the better.

Taking into account their last encounter at Roland Garros 2025, where the Czech only managed three games (6-0, 6-1, 6-2), the feeling in the Hard Rock Stadium was that of another smooth victory for the world number two. However, Lehecka got feisty and tried to avoid another one-sided match. He had a 0-40 to level the final in the next game, but Sinner's infallible serve from San Candido appeared, neutralizing the attempt and putting him 3-1.

The rain-laden clouds threatened to halt Sinner's blazing start, but his internal fire kept the rain and Lehecka at bay. Nonetheless, the Czech resisted, not wanting to miss out on a final that was proving to be an uphill battle, and saved two set points with his serve. But San Candido's player remained unfazed because in the following game, he closed a set (6-4) that he controlled from the first point and excelled with a 100% first serve points won.

The rain paused the final for an hour and thirty minutes

Sinner was flowing on the court, but the rain also wanted its share of the spotlight, interrupting the Central Court and forcing both players to retreat to the locker room for over an hour and a half. Everything started again, and it remained to be seen if the match would continue as a monologue by the world number two or if Lehecka would make a comeback. The Players are ready and back to the fray.

The Czech's main weapon throughout the tournament was his strong serve, and in this second part of the final, it began to falter, while in long exchanges, he was at a disadvantage. However, he heroically withstood his first two service games defending several break points.

Sinner attacked when necessary and achieved his first Sunshine Double

Successfully escaping that moment of danger made him loosen up in returns while stepping forward on the court, becoming increasingly aggressive. Lehecka wanted more of the final, and so did the stands. But at a critical point in the second set (4-4), Sinner, who had dominated much of the match, didn't want any surprises, said enough, and struck the second blow of the final with a break.

Once again, at the most crucial moment, as the greatest tennis players do, Sinner decided the second set, the match, and the final (6-4, 6-4), demonstrating how to handle nerves, pressure, and the opponent's push, who tried until the end. This way, he deserves the Sunshine Double, bringing him dangerously close to the world number one, held by Carlos Alcaraz, and regaining a confidence that seemed lost at the beginning of the year. If someone doubted Jannik Sinner, they should wake up from their dream because he is back stronger than ever.
 

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