Daniil Medvedev beat Jannik Sinner 7-5, 6-3 in the Miami final, 2023 on hard court
It was Medvedev’s first final at the event and fifth final in succession following titles in Rotterdam (beating Sinner in the final), Doha, Dubai and a runner-up showing in Indian Wells. Sinner had been runner-up two years ago also and would go onto win his first Masters title later in the year in Canada
Medvedev won 74 points, Sinner 52
Serve Stats
Medvedev...
- 1st serve percentage (37/63) 59%
- 1st serve points won (32/37) 86%
- 2nd serve points won (12/26) 46%
- Aces 9
- Double Faults 6
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (23/63) 37%
Sinner...
- 1st serve percentage (35/63) 56%
- 1st serve points won (24/35) 69%
- 2nd serve points won (9/28) 32%
- Aces 6
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (17/63) 27%
Serve Pattern
Medvedev served...
- to FH 54%
- to BH 46%
Sinner served...
- to FH 49%
- to BH 44%
- to Body 6%
Return Stats
Medvedev made...
- 46 (21 FH, 25 BH), including 1 runaround BH
- 11 Errors, comprising...
- 5 Unforced (4 FH, 1 BH)
- 6 Forced (5 FH, 1 BH)
- Return Rate (46/63) 73%
Sinner made...
- 34 (17 FH, 17 BH)
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 14 Errors, comprising...
- 7 Unforced (3 FH, 4 BH)
- 7 Forced (3 FH, 4 BH)
- Return Rate (34/57) 60%
Break Points
Medvedev 4/6 (5 games)
Sinner 2/6 (2 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding aces)
Medvedev 10 (5 FH, 3 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)
Sinner 10 (5 FH, 1 BH, 4 FHV)
Medvedev's FHs - 1 cc, 2 dtl (1 pass - which Sinner left), 1 inside-out, 1 running-down-drop-shot cc pass at net
- BHs - 3 cc
- the BHV was swinging, baseline passing shot
Sinner's FHs - 2 cc/inside-in, 2 inside-out, 1 inside-in/(inside-out) (hit from inside-in position, angled inside-out)
- BH return - 1 cc pass
- 2 from serve-volley points (2 FHV), both first volleys
Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Medvedev 19
- 12 Unforced (8 FH, 4 BH)
- 7 Forced (6 FH, 1 BH)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.5
Sinner 41
- 33 Unforced (20 FH, 13 BH)... with 1 FH at net & 1 FH running-down-drop-shot at net
- 8 Forced (1 FH, 6 BH, 1 BHV)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 45.2
(Note 1: all half-volleys refer to such shots played at net. Half -volleys played from other parts of the court are included within relevant groundstroke counts)
(Note 2: the Unforced Error Forcefulness Index is an indicator of how aggressive the average UE was. The numbers presented are keyed on 4 categories - 20 defensive, 40 neutral, 50 attacking and 60 winner attempt)
Net Points & Serve-Volley
Medvedev was...
- 3/4 (75%) at net, including...
- 0/1 serve-volleying, a 2nd serve
Sinner was...
- 10/15 (67%) at net, including...
- 3/4 (75%) serve-volleying, all 1st serves
Match Report
Medvedev squeezes Sinner out in a dull match, where the latter demonstrates very poor conditioning. Court is slow
Sinner with 33 UEs (20 FH, 13 BH). Putting that in perspective -
- unreturned serves - Med 23, Sinner 17
- combined winners for both players 20
- combined FEs for both players 15
- Med’s UEs 12
- (so all errors by both players, sans Sinner’s UEs 27)
Sinner has 19 neutral UEs - near double Med’s total of 12
That’s as clear cut as can be; Sinner’s inability to keep ball in play is the match
When that happens, it can be because player is terrible and loose. Or because his opponent is so steady in never missing a ball that its left for the loser to make the UEs. There’s a certain element of the latter going on - Med is steady to an impressive extent, but mostly discredit Sinner for the situation
To his credit, he doesn’t give up or get careless or give up too many UEs immediately (off third or fourth balls) or play wild shots. Rallies are medium of length, with more long ones than very short. To his discredit is fitness
Half-way through first set, after a run of long-ish rallies (which don’t involve too much running), Sinner is winded. He calls for a medical time out at 4-3 change-over (on serve). There’s no injury. Just looks like he’s winded. For rest of match, he’s in obvious physical difficulty, seemingly unrelated to bones or muscles but just being weary. Commentators speculate his blood-sugar levels might have dropped
It’s the kind of thing you might see in a high school meet. Top professional athlete, winded to the point of wilting after about 30 minutes of not-easy action - a more apt description than ‘hard action’ - just seems ridiculous. On up side, it makes the brand of grit and mental stability - the not giving up and not playing recklessly - the more impressive. On the down, he’s had wind knocked out of him ridiculously easily. A fit recreational player would likely be in better shape after the same workout
Sinner’s stamine issues doesn’t lead to his game dipping. If anything, he’s quicker to give up UEs prior to it
Good serving from both players
Unreturneds - Med 37%, Sinner 27%
Aces - Med 9, Sinner 6
It’s a slow court, where even shots on the move against decently struck balls aren’t too troubling. In that light, Med’s serve has out-done itself to gain so many freebies. The only downside is very high 6 double faults or 23% of second serves. Decent second serves from Med, but nothing damaging or justifying so many doubles. Sinner has no doubles
Cute, identical numbers in Sinners returns. Makes 17 FH, 17 BH. Makes 7 UEs, 7 FEs - 3 FHs, 4 BHs on both fronts. Med serves 54% to FH, rest to BH
Action is baseline stuff with both players ball-bashing at normal angles (Sinner a little more) and Med more ready to accept reactive role, in which he’s very able in handling Sinner’s not inconsiderable force of shot
And of course, Sinner giving up the UEs in due time. Usually FHs
No need for Med to take net and he approaches just 3 times, winning them all. The only net point he loses is an odd second serve-volley, which isn’t just completely against everything else he does, but particularly so at the time he does it. Sinner nails a return-pass winner on it. Some of the chances to come in that Med foregoes are extreme. Possibly because he wants to keep Sinner hitting groundies longer
Sinner serve-volleys a bit, winning 3/4 so doing. The only one he loses is when he leaves a pass that was only made possible by a mediocre first volley. Looks for the drop shot, which is a good option against the camped back Med, but invariably misses. About 5-6 such misses
In the Indian Wells final just before this event, Carlos Alcaraz put on an exhibition in exploiting Med’s backward position with serve-volleys and drop shots. Unlike him, Sinner doesn’t look comfy either serve-volleying or at net and he’s a dud on the droppers. Gets routine volleys when serve-volleying
The odd, powerful FH from Sinner. Bare minimum to expect with 20 UEs. Med’s upto handling it
BH looks a well-hit shot too. Med’s BH though is the rock of the match with match low 4 UEs. He doesn’t move Sinner around much, but when he does, its usually to BH side (both with FH line and wide BH cc)
Match Progression
Takes Sinner 14 points to hold his first game, after Med opens with a love hold. Bunch of FH errors of all kinds - at net, third ball, drop shot but mostly after decent length rallies in the game. Good serves and finally, a serve-volley finally gets Sinner over the line. Med responds with another love hold, finishing with a nice BH cc winner
Sinner breaks first to go up 3-2 in a 16 point game. 3 double faults in the game from Med. Sinner finishes with a neat FHV winner from under the net. Med breaks right back, with more FH errors from Sinner, with a couple of good rallies in the game. Its around here that Sinner starts looking wobbly
Both players hold comfortably to the end. Med with a nice drop-shot in + swinging BHV pass winner from the baseline combo stands out
Horrendous game from Sinner to give up the set missing regulation groundies, couple of them third balls
After Med holds to start second set, there are 3 breaks on the trot
Med grabs the first via Sinner UEs, including running-down-a-drop-shot at net shot he’s reached in good time. Good, wide winning FH cc is Med’s positive contribution to the game
Odd choice by Med to second serve-volley in game after as Sinner’s clearly on wobbly legs. Sinner smacks a BH cc return-pass winner and draws to 2 UEs to break back
And Med outlasts Sinner game after to draw errors and move ahead again 3-1
No more competitive thrills as both players hold to the end. Nifty FH dtl winner by Med against a deep return brings up match point, and a strong, unreturned serve seals it
Summing up, a dull match of action though having points of interest. Medvedev serves big and stays steady from the back, content to be slightly reactive in rallies. Sinner hits more heftily but short of hard-hitting and without going wide to get on proper attack
And Sinner misses a lot more from the back - partially due to Medvedev’s steadiness encouraging him to. He seems to be worn out quite early, by a far from gruelling ordeal
It was Medvedev’s first final at the event and fifth final in succession following titles in Rotterdam (beating Sinner in the final), Doha, Dubai and a runner-up showing in Indian Wells. Sinner had been runner-up two years ago also and would go onto win his first Masters title later in the year in Canada
Medvedev won 74 points, Sinner 52
Serve Stats
Medvedev...
- 1st serve percentage (37/63) 59%
- 1st serve points won (32/37) 86%
- 2nd serve points won (12/26) 46%
- Aces 9
- Double Faults 6
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (23/63) 37%
Sinner...
- 1st serve percentage (35/63) 56%
- 1st serve points won (24/35) 69%
- 2nd serve points won (9/28) 32%
- Aces 6
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (17/63) 27%
Serve Pattern
Medvedev served...
- to FH 54%
- to BH 46%
Sinner served...
- to FH 49%
- to BH 44%
- to Body 6%
Return Stats
Medvedev made...
- 46 (21 FH, 25 BH), including 1 runaround BH
- 11 Errors, comprising...
- 5 Unforced (4 FH, 1 BH)
- 6 Forced (5 FH, 1 BH)
- Return Rate (46/63) 73%
Sinner made...
- 34 (17 FH, 17 BH)
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 14 Errors, comprising...
- 7 Unforced (3 FH, 4 BH)
- 7 Forced (3 FH, 4 BH)
- Return Rate (34/57) 60%
Break Points
Medvedev 4/6 (5 games)
Sinner 2/6 (2 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding aces)
Medvedev 10 (5 FH, 3 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)
Sinner 10 (5 FH, 1 BH, 4 FHV)
Medvedev's FHs - 1 cc, 2 dtl (1 pass - which Sinner left), 1 inside-out, 1 running-down-drop-shot cc pass at net
- BHs - 3 cc
- the BHV was swinging, baseline passing shot
Sinner's FHs - 2 cc/inside-in, 2 inside-out, 1 inside-in/(inside-out) (hit from inside-in position, angled inside-out)
- BH return - 1 cc pass
- 2 from serve-volley points (2 FHV), both first volleys
Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Medvedev 19
- 12 Unforced (8 FH, 4 BH)
- 7 Forced (6 FH, 1 BH)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.5
Sinner 41
- 33 Unforced (20 FH, 13 BH)... with 1 FH at net & 1 FH running-down-drop-shot at net
- 8 Forced (1 FH, 6 BH, 1 BHV)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 45.2
(Note 1: all half-volleys refer to such shots played at net. Half -volleys played from other parts of the court are included within relevant groundstroke counts)
(Note 2: the Unforced Error Forcefulness Index is an indicator of how aggressive the average UE was. The numbers presented are keyed on 4 categories - 20 defensive, 40 neutral, 50 attacking and 60 winner attempt)
Net Points & Serve-Volley
Medvedev was...
- 3/4 (75%) at net, including...
- 0/1 serve-volleying, a 2nd serve
Sinner was...
- 10/15 (67%) at net, including...
- 3/4 (75%) serve-volleying, all 1st serves
Match Report
Medvedev squeezes Sinner out in a dull match, where the latter demonstrates very poor conditioning. Court is slow
Sinner with 33 UEs (20 FH, 13 BH). Putting that in perspective -
- unreturned serves - Med 23, Sinner 17
- combined winners for both players 20
- combined FEs for both players 15
- Med’s UEs 12
- (so all errors by both players, sans Sinner’s UEs 27)
Sinner has 19 neutral UEs - near double Med’s total of 12
That’s as clear cut as can be; Sinner’s inability to keep ball in play is the match
When that happens, it can be because player is terrible and loose. Or because his opponent is so steady in never missing a ball that its left for the loser to make the UEs. There’s a certain element of the latter going on - Med is steady to an impressive extent, but mostly discredit Sinner for the situation
To his credit, he doesn’t give up or get careless or give up too many UEs immediately (off third or fourth balls) or play wild shots. Rallies are medium of length, with more long ones than very short. To his discredit is fitness
Half-way through first set, after a run of long-ish rallies (which don’t involve too much running), Sinner is winded. He calls for a medical time out at 4-3 change-over (on serve). There’s no injury. Just looks like he’s winded. For rest of match, he’s in obvious physical difficulty, seemingly unrelated to bones or muscles but just being weary. Commentators speculate his blood-sugar levels might have dropped
It’s the kind of thing you might see in a high school meet. Top professional athlete, winded to the point of wilting after about 30 minutes of not-easy action - a more apt description than ‘hard action’ - just seems ridiculous. On up side, it makes the brand of grit and mental stability - the not giving up and not playing recklessly - the more impressive. On the down, he’s had wind knocked out of him ridiculously easily. A fit recreational player would likely be in better shape after the same workout
Sinner’s stamine issues doesn’t lead to his game dipping. If anything, he’s quicker to give up UEs prior to it
Good serving from both players
Unreturneds - Med 37%, Sinner 27%
Aces - Med 9, Sinner 6
It’s a slow court, where even shots on the move against decently struck balls aren’t too troubling. In that light, Med’s serve has out-done itself to gain so many freebies. The only downside is very high 6 double faults or 23% of second serves. Decent second serves from Med, but nothing damaging or justifying so many doubles. Sinner has no doubles
Cute, identical numbers in Sinners returns. Makes 17 FH, 17 BH. Makes 7 UEs, 7 FEs - 3 FHs, 4 BHs on both fronts. Med serves 54% to FH, rest to BH
Action is baseline stuff with both players ball-bashing at normal angles (Sinner a little more) and Med more ready to accept reactive role, in which he’s very able in handling Sinner’s not inconsiderable force of shot
And of course, Sinner giving up the UEs in due time. Usually FHs
No need for Med to take net and he approaches just 3 times, winning them all. The only net point he loses is an odd second serve-volley, which isn’t just completely against everything else he does, but particularly so at the time he does it. Sinner nails a return-pass winner on it. Some of the chances to come in that Med foregoes are extreme. Possibly because he wants to keep Sinner hitting groundies longer
Sinner serve-volleys a bit, winning 3/4 so doing. The only one he loses is when he leaves a pass that was only made possible by a mediocre first volley. Looks for the drop shot, which is a good option against the camped back Med, but invariably misses. About 5-6 such misses
In the Indian Wells final just before this event, Carlos Alcaraz put on an exhibition in exploiting Med’s backward position with serve-volleys and drop shots. Unlike him, Sinner doesn’t look comfy either serve-volleying or at net and he’s a dud on the droppers. Gets routine volleys when serve-volleying
The odd, powerful FH from Sinner. Bare minimum to expect with 20 UEs. Med’s upto handling it
BH looks a well-hit shot too. Med’s BH though is the rock of the match with match low 4 UEs. He doesn’t move Sinner around much, but when he does, its usually to BH side (both with FH line and wide BH cc)
Match Progression
Takes Sinner 14 points to hold his first game, after Med opens with a love hold. Bunch of FH errors of all kinds - at net, third ball, drop shot but mostly after decent length rallies in the game. Good serves and finally, a serve-volley finally gets Sinner over the line. Med responds with another love hold, finishing with a nice BH cc winner
Sinner breaks first to go up 3-2 in a 16 point game. 3 double faults in the game from Med. Sinner finishes with a neat FHV winner from under the net. Med breaks right back, with more FH errors from Sinner, with a couple of good rallies in the game. Its around here that Sinner starts looking wobbly
Both players hold comfortably to the end. Med with a nice drop-shot in + swinging BHV pass winner from the baseline combo stands out
Horrendous game from Sinner to give up the set missing regulation groundies, couple of them third balls
After Med holds to start second set, there are 3 breaks on the trot
Med grabs the first via Sinner UEs, including running-down-a-drop-shot at net shot he’s reached in good time. Good, wide winning FH cc is Med’s positive contribution to the game
Odd choice by Med to second serve-volley in game after as Sinner’s clearly on wobbly legs. Sinner smacks a BH cc return-pass winner and draws to 2 UEs to break back
And Med outlasts Sinner game after to draw errors and move ahead again 3-1
No more competitive thrills as both players hold to the end. Nifty FH dtl winner by Med against a deep return brings up match point, and a strong, unreturned serve seals it
Summing up, a dull match of action though having points of interest. Medvedev serves big and stays steady from the back, content to be slightly reactive in rallies. Sinner hits more heftily but short of hard-hitting and without going wide to get on proper attack
And Sinner misses a lot more from the back - partially due to Medvedev’s steadiness encouraging him to. He seems to be worn out quite early, by a far from gruelling ordeal
