Jannik Sinner is through to the 2024 Miami Open quarter-finals after overcoming multiple obstacles against Christopher O'Connell.
The Australian player has been playing some inspired tennis at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Miami, and that's why he found himself in the fourth round of the event, eliminating Frances Tiafoe along the way.
However, the reigning Australian Open champion, who was his fourth-round opponent, is simply one of the best players in the world right now, and that's why it was difficult for O'Connell to really challenge for a victory, even though he had a sensational start.
The world no. 66 actually started the match with an early break, taking Sinner's serve in the first game. He then confirmed it with a hold, and after saving a break point in fourth and sixth game, O'Connell still led 4-2 halfway through the first set.
Sinner already lost a set at the tournament and came back, but he certainly wanted to avoid that in this match, and he did. From a 2-4 deficit, Sinner changed gears and never looked back, winning four consecutive games to win the firsts et 6-4.
The 22-year-old built up on those four consecutive games, winning three more at the start of the second set to lead 3-0, but it didn't come easy, even though it looks that way.
After he broke his opponent's serve and led 2-0, one of the spectators in the audience fainted, as Sinner rushed to bring water battles and help in any possible way. As a result, the match was suspended for over ten minutes.
After the unexpected break, however, Sinner was able to continue like nothing happened, holding his serve to love to establish a 3-0 lead in the second set.
He would stay almost perfect on his serve in the second set, winning every single point except for when he led 40-0 and had three match points, serving for the match. That's when the Italian lost one really, but won the following to win the match 6-4, 6-3.
Up next for Sinner is Tomas Machac from the Czech Republic, who is having a great tournament.