WATCH: Serena Williams gives Jannik Sinner huge compliment as the pair meet at Miami Open

Ewan West 30 Mar 2024 12:27 PM

Serena Williams watching Jannik Sinner's match at the Miami Open

Tennis icon Serena Williams gave Jannik Sinner huge praise when the pair met at the 2024 Miami Open following the Italian’s stunning semi-final win over Daniil Medvedev.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion hailed Sinner’s forehand as she expressed her wish that she possessed the shot, while describing the 22-year-old as “unbelievable.”

Sinner crushed world No 4 Medvedev 6-1, 6-2 in the last four in Miami on Friday to advance to the final of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament for the third time.

The world No 3, who was a runner-up in Miami in 2021 and 2023, is looking to win his second Masters 1000 title to add to his triumph at the Canadian Open last year.

The Australian Open champion will take on Grigor Dimitrov in the Miami Open final on Sunday after the 32-year-old Bulgarian overcame Alexander Zverev in a three-set semi-final.

Williams, who won a record eight titles at the Miami Open during her remarkable career, was in attendance for both men’s semi-finals at the Hard Rock Stadium on Friday.

Sinner met with Williams after his win, and the former world No 1 was clearly impressed with his performance as she paid him a huge compliment.

Serena Williams chatting with Jannik Sinner

Serena: “I wish I had my forehand like that.”

Jannik: “don’t say that”

Serena: “No seriously, the racquet speed, the power… you’re unbelievable.”

The ultimate compliment. pic.twitter.com/9qJavQzVis

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 29, 2024

“I wish I hit my forehand like that,” she said. “Seriously, the racket speed, the power, I was like, ‘Wow, night and day’. You’re unbelievable. Congrats on Australia.”

Following his fifth straight victory against Medvedev, Sinner was asked how he has turned around his rivalry with the Russian after he had trailed 0-6 in the head-to-head.

“It’s going to be interesting to see now in the future what’s happening, what’s he’s gonna change, where I have to be very clear with my mind,” the Italian explained.

“But for sure he’s a player who made me a better player, because, you know, I had to, for example in Beijing, I started to serve and volley. Then in Vienna I tried to serve and volley but it was not working again.

“So here I had to be very careful on couple of things, but, you know, these kind of players, they make you a better player. It sometimes doesn’t really matter the head-to-head, but it matters how you understand from your losses and trying to learn.

“That’s what I have been trying in the last years not only with him but also with other opponents, and this makes me, yeah, a better player.”