Miami, Mar 21 (EFE).- Jannik Sinner equalled a record held by Novak Djokovic for consecutive sets won at Masters 1000 events, while Spain’s Rafael Jódar surged into the third round of the Miami Open, where he will face Tomás Martín Etcheverry.
On a day of standout performances at the Miami Open, Spain’s Rafael Jódar impressed with a commanding win to reach the third round, where he will take on Argentina’s Tomás Martín Etcheverry.
Elsewhere, Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo delivered an upset victory over Andrey Rublev, while Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Paula Badosa exited the tournament with disappointing defeats.
Sinner equals Djokovic
World No. 2 Sinner needed just over an hour to defeat Dzumhur 6-3, 6-3, advancing comfortably to the third round of a tournament he won in 2024.
The Italian has now won 12 consecutive matches without dropping a set in Masters 1000 events, a streak that began at the 2025 Paris Masters and continued through Indian Wells.
His run matches Djokovic’s mark of 24 consecutive sets won between Indian Wells and Miami in 2016, when the Serbian claimed both titles.
Sinner will have the chance to surpass that record when he faces France’s Corentin Moutet (No. 33) in the next round. He is also aiming to become the eighth player to complete the Indian Wells–Miami double in the same season.
Jódar impresses; Etcheverry advances
Nineteen-year-old Jódar delivered a dominant performance, defeating Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic 6-1, 6-2 in just 55 minutes to reach the third round in only his second Masters 1000 appearance.
Ranked No. 109, the Spaniard overpowered Vukic (No. 93) with an aggressive and efficient display.
Jódar also received a visit from Queen Sofía at the tournament, where she greeted several Spanish players, including Carlos Alcaraz.
His next opponent, Etcheverry (No. 32), advanced by defeating Belgium’s Zizou Bergs (No. 45) in two tight tiebreak sets, 7-6, 7-6.
Despite converting just one of 11 break-point opportunities, the Argentine capitalized on Bergs’ 54 unforced errors to secure his best result in Miami, having never previously advanced beyond the second round.
Etcheverry is one of only two Argentinians still in contention, alongside Francisco Cerúndolo (No. 19), who defeated compatriot Thiago Agustín Tirante (No. 81) 6-4, 6-2. Cerúndolo will next face Russia’s Daniil Medvedev (No. 10).
Medvedev endured a difficult debut, dropping the first set in a tiebreak to Japan’s Rei Sakamoto (No. 164) and facing break points in the second before ultimately securing victory.
Tabilo surprises; Davidovich and Badosa fall
Tabilo produced one of the day’s biggest upsets, rallying to defeat Rublev 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4. He will face American Alex Michelsen (No. 40) in the next round.
The Chilean is aiming to reach the fourth round of a Masters 1000 event for the first time in three years.
In contrast, Spain’s Davidovich Fokina (No. 17) fell 7-6(8), 6-4 to France’s Quentin Halys (No. 111), despite winning more total points (78-77).
Badosa, currently ranked No. 100, suffered a heavy 6-2, 6-1 defeat while visibly hampered by a thigh injury. The Spaniard, who reached a career-high No. 2 in April 2022, continues to struggle with physical setbacks. EFE
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