Jannik Sinner provides big injury update with practice schedule in Miami

Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner admitted he didn’t know if he would play at the Miami Open after sustaining an injury in his defeat against Carlos Alcaraz in Indian Wells last Saturday, yet it seems the world No 3 is ready to roll in Florida.

Sinner hurt his elbow as he took a tumble in his epic match against Alcaraz and he was also seen stretching out his calf in a match that ended with his first defeat of 2024.

“I feel a little bit of everything on my body, but it’s normal. It’s sport,” said Sinner after his defeat against Alcaraz.

“You know, you have to accept this. I had some problems, just small problems, but it was okay throughout until the third set. Then when I fell, I felt a little bit the elbow because I fell over the elbow and I rolled over. So was for me after tough to serve.

“But he makes things very difficult to play obviously. He puts a lot of pressure on you. You know, he changed a couple of things tactically, which I have to watch out for the next time. I have to improve couple of things and try to beat him again.”

Sinner has taken some time off since that loss against Alcaraz, but he is ready to return to court after booking an extended practice session on the main Stadium court in Miami on Tuesday.

Most players book one slot on the practice schedule, but Sinner is down for two slots on a list that also includes Holger Rune, Frances Tiafoe and Ugo Humbert.

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Sinner has plenty of ranking points to defend in Miami as he reached the final of this tournament last year, in a run that included a victory against Alcaraz.

After their thrilling battle in Indian Wells, Sinner is relishing the chance to take on Alcaraz again, with the two most talked about players in men’s tennis in the opposite halves of the draw in Miami and only able to meet in the final.

“He’s moving really, really fast, as we know,” said Sinner of Alcaraz.

“Especially on this court where the ball bounces really high, it’s not easy to play against him, because he can play with a lot of spin.

“What I have missed was that I was too predictable at some points. You know, I was doing the same things over and over again, which in my mind let me down.

“You know, like I was playing really good the first set. Then after, you know, when you see your opponent, you know, struggling a little bit, I tried to stay solid instead of, you know, trying to move around.

“So I was too predictable at some points. I think that’s the lesson. We will work on certain things, you know, and hopefully I will get better.

“For sure you want to win, you know. But there will be occasions in the future where you win some and you lose some. There is nothing you can do about it.

“Most important part is that you give 100%, which I’ve done. I was struggling in the third set, but, you know, he used it to his advantage, and that’s it, no? I enjoy these kind of matches. That’s also why I practice.”

Sinner missed out on a chance to oust Alcaraz from the world No 2 spot in Indian Wells and now he will be eyeing up a chance to get closer to him in the rankings once again.