WATCH: Winner winner Jannik Sinner! Turnaround marks Masters first for Italian talent
Jannik Sinner is into his first Masters 1000 quarter-final away from the Miami Open after completing an impressive comeback against world number eight Andrey Rublev.
The 20-year-old Italian was down a set and a break in the second set at 7-5, 1-0 before Sinner reeled off the next six games to level the match and force a decider against the Russian.
Sinner really upped his level to after looking emotionally lost, one highlight being this stunning drop shot at the end of a lengthy rally in the second set.
A ferocious rally ended with the sweetest of drop shots 🤌@janniksin fighting for his life against Rublev!#RolexMCMasters pic.twitter.com/4OgFpD6VVI
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 14, 2022
Sinner said after eventually downing Rublev 5-7, 6-1, 6-3: “It was tough, I tried to play every point.
“Obviously with the crowd it’s unbelievable playing here.
“I’m very happy to be through to the next round.”
The Monte Carlo crowd was particularly partisan during this evening battle as fans were clearly backing the Italian man, especially late in the third set.
JANNIK! JANNIK! JANNIK!
Not sure if Monte-Carlo or South Tirol 🇮🇹@janniksin #RolexMCMasters pic.twitter.com/koqlrelioU
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 14, 2022
World number 12 Jannik Sinner will now face World number three Alexander Zverev for a place in the last four.
Zverev leads that head-to-head 2-1, though Sinner won their only previous meeting on clay, their first ever in fact, coming at Roland Garros in 2020 when the Italian was just 18 and ranked 75th in the world.
While Sinner will be chasing his first Masters semi-final away from Miami, Zverev is himself looking to secure some personal history as he aims to win a first Monte Carlo title and complete the full set of clay court Masters 1000 titles.
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