Jannik Sinner can’t control his laughter as he hits his physio in a ‘really important’ spot

Kevin Palmer
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Jannik Sinner at the Italian Open
Jannik Sinner wins at the Italian Open

Jannik Sinner managed to plant a ball in a delicate area of his physio Giacomo Naldi, but he didn’t let the comical moment distract him as he eased into the quarter-finals at the Miami Open.

Australian Open champion Sinner was tested by the impressive Australian Christopher O’Connell before finding his best form to ease into the final eight.

It was Sinner’s 19th win from his opening 20 matches in 2024 and that impressive record has rarely been matched in the recent history of the men’s game.

Rafael Nadal (2022), Novak Djokovic (2011 and 2020), Ivan Lendl (1986), John McEnroe (1984) and Bjorn Borg (1980) all won their first 20 matches of a calendar year, yet Sinner has the best win percentage of any player this year after his latest victory.

He also became the third player to make the quarter-finals at the Miami Open on all his first four tournament appearances after Stefan Edberg and Yannick Noah, with the 22-year-old Italian confirming he has the consistency to add to his brilliance over the first three months of this year.

Yet when he recalls this match in years to come, it is likely to be memorable for the incident that saw a ball hit off the end of his racket and strike his physio Naldi in an area of the body that would make all men flinch.

“The serve was in. With the frame the ball went straight to him at a really important part for human beings,” said a smiling Sinner.

It’s fair to suggest his physio didn’t find the incident quite so amusing, but Naldi would have been pleased to see his man come through another match unscathed.

Sinner came into the Miami Open with some fitness doubts after he appeared to injure his elbow in his defeat against Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells, but he is happy with his form heading into the business end of another ATP 1000 event.

READ MORE: Jannik Sinner reveals how he controls his emotions on court after comeback victory

“He started off really well, I made a couple of mistakes. When you are a break down, especially in the beginning, it’s always tough, also mentally,” reflected Sinner.

“Today was much different (than his last match on Sunday. Much more windy, so I had to adjust a little bit,

“I had some chances even before I broke him, so I know that I was doing the right things. I tried to serve really solid. He made a couple of mistakes in important moments and I think today was the key.”

Sinner will face the hugely impressive Czech star Tomas Machac next, who continued his breakthrough week in Miami by beating Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi.

Machac, who beat three-time Grand Slam champion on his way to a debut ATP 1000 quarter-final, is set to make huge strides in the world rankings after his run in Miami and he is projected to rise 18 places in the live rankings after his big week in Flordia.

That would move him up to No 42, which is a massive rise for a player who was ranked at 1,260 a little over a year ago.

“I’m starting to believe in myself a little bit,” said Machac after his latest win. “It’s not easy, you need to work, work work.”

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