Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev claimed his fourth title of the season with victory at the Miami Open on Sunday.
The 27-year-old Muscovite overcame Italy’s Jannik Sinner in straight sets, 7-5 6-3, to collect the ATP Masters 1000 title – which is the fifth of his career at that level. Medvedev is only the second Russian to win the Miami tournament after Nikolay Davydenko’s 2008 victory.
“I’m really happy. Today was a tough match. It was probably the hottest day and the most humid during the day,” Medvedev, who is currently ranked number four in the world, said after the win against Sinner. “The hands get a little shaky so the serve is a little bit tougher... I managed to get myself together and close the match.”
Medvedev’s triumph in Miami comes after tournament victories in Rotterdam, Doha, and Dubai earlier this year, while he was runner-up at the Indian Wells Open in California last month.
The Russian’s red-hot form has propelled him to the top of the ATP’s ‘live ratings’ for 2023, as he has won 24 of his last 25 matches.
Unlike many international sports federations, the ATP allows athletes from Russia to participate in its events. Russian athletes have been barred from most global tournaments following the launch of Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine early last year.
Medvedev told reporters in Florida he is happy that Russian and Belarusian players were recently allowed to compete again at Wimbledon after a one-year ban.