Carlos Alcaraz complained about the level his opponents produced during Indian Wells earlier this month.
After beating Arthur Rinderknech in the third round, Alcaraz had this to say during his post-match press conference.
“I just sometimes get tired [of] playing Roger Federer every round. Sometimes [it] just feels they’re playing an insane level.”
Will Jannik Sinner overtake Carlos Alcaraz and become world number one? 🤔
If so, when will he do it?
Following Jannik Sinner’s tough win over Alex Michelsen in Miami, Ryan Harrison suggested the Italian was dealing with the same problem.
Ryan Harrison says rivals play like ‘Roger Federer’ against Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
During Sky Sports’ post-match coverage, Harrison delivered his verdict on Sinner’s 7-5, 7-6 win over Michelsen.
“He’s looking great, he said that there were some things out there where he didn’t feel like he did his best,” said Harrison.
“But there are some other things he’s done really well.
“Serving well.
“He broke his own aces record several times throughout the Australian Open.
Jannik Sinner’s serving stats in 2026
| Match | Aces | 1st Serve % | Win % on 1st Serve | Win % on 2nd Serve |
| Australian Open 1R vs Hugo Gaston [WIN] | 6 | 64% | 86% | 50% |
| Australian Open 2R vs James Duckworth [WIN] | 18 (NEW RECORD) | 66% | 81% | 72% |
| Australian Open 3R vs Eliot Spizzirri [WIN] | 17 | 66% | 66% | 46% |
| Australian Open 4R vs Luciano Darderi [WIN] | 19 (NEW RECORD) | 73% | 81% | 61% |
| Australian Open QF vs Ben Shelton [WIN] | 5 | 60% | 76% | 71% |
| Australian Open SF vs Novak Djokovic [LOSS] | 26 (NEW RECORD) | 75% | 80% | 55% |
| Qatar Open 1R vs Tomas Machac [WIN] | 7 | 69% | 86% | 85% |
| Qatar Open 2R vs Alexei Popyrin [WIN] | 7 | 74% | 79% | 73% |
| Qatar Open QF vs Jakub Mensik [LOSS] | 6 | 63% | 72% | 66% |
| Indian Wells 2R vs Dalibor Svrcina [WIN] | 2 | 68% | 81% | 90% |
| Indian Wells 3R vs Denis Shapovalov [WIN] | 6 | 77% | 85% | 50% |
| Indian Wells 4R vs Joao Fonseca [WIN] | 15 | 59% | 86% | 53% |
| Indian Wells QF vs Learner Tien [WIN] | 10 | 63% | 83% | 59% |
| Indian Wells SF vs Alexander Zverev [WIN] | 8 | 57% | 83% | 70% |
| Indian Wells F vs Daniil Medvedev [WIN] | 10 | 65% | 91% | 65% |
| Miami Open 2R vs Damir Dzumhur [WIN] | 9 | 64% | 90% | 79% |
| Miami Open 3R vs Corentin Moutet [WIN] | 7 | 79% | 87% | 50% |
| Miami Open 4R vs Alex Michelsen [WIN] | 15 | 66% | 90% | 50% |
“Coming in here not feeling his 100% best, but still finding a way to get through in straight sets, yet again.
“You’re getting guys, as [Carlos] Alcaraz said, who play like [Roger] Federer against you, because they come out and have nothing to lose.
“[Alex] Michelsen was throwing everything at him, and he still found a way through.”
Harrison is right, as Michelsen played out of his skin against Sinner.
The American even led Sinner 5-2 in the second set, enjoying a dominant spell against the world number two.
Unfortunately for Michelsen, the sun set, literally and figuratively, on his Miami Open chances, as he failed to hold serve and force a decider.
What Alex Michelsen was overheard saying minutes before losing to Jannik Sinner in Miami
Instead, Michelsen had to settle for a second-set tiebreak against Sinner.
Losing an epic first point of the tiebreak, Michelsen couldn’t quite believe the level of tennis Sinner was producing.
After the match, Sky Sports presenter Gigi Salmon revealed what she heard Michelsen say after the point.
“After that first point in the tiebreak, Alex Michelsen came to his towel box, which is right next to us, where we sit, and he said, ‘It’s an absolute joke’,” she recalled.
Michelsen lost the tiebreak, 4-7, but can be proud of his efforts in Miami, as he made Sinner work hard for his place in the quarterfinals.
Who will Jannik Sinner play next in Miami?
Sinner hasn’t dropped a set en route to the Miami Open quarterfinals.
2026 Miami Open men’s singles quarterfinals
- [Q] Martin Landaluce vs [21] Jiri Lehecka
- [22] Tommy Paul vs [28] Arthur Fils
- [18] Francisco Cerundolo vs [3] Alexander Zverev
- [19] Frances Tiafoe vs [2] Jannik Sinner
He’ll now prepare to take on home favorite Frances Tiafoe.
Sinner and Tiafoe have met five times previously, as the four-time Grand Slam champion leads their head-to-head 4-1.
Jannik Sinner and Frances Tiafoe’s head-to-head record
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2024 Cincinnati Open – F | Jannik Sinner | Frances Tiafoe | 7-6, 6-2 |
| 2023 Vienna Open – QF | Jannik Sinner | Frances Tiafoe | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2022 Vienna Open – SF | Frances Tiafoe | Jannik Sinner | 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 |
| 2019 Next Gen Finals – RR | Jannik Sinner | Frances Tiafoe | 3-4, 4-2, 4-2, 4-2 |
| 2019 European Open – QF | Jannik Sinner | Frances Tiafoe | 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 |
Only time will tell who will emerge victorious in their sixth ATP Tour meeting.
Sinner and Tiafoe will battle it out for a place in the Miami Open semifinals on Thursday, March 26.
