ROBERTO Bautista Agut is set for a rematch with teenage Italian Jannik Sinner after toppling the number one player in Miami to book a semi-final spot. The seventh seed Spaniard won 6-4 6-2 over Daniil Medvedev in the Miami Open 1000 ATP Masters quarter finals.

“I want to give Daniil all the credit, I know he is one of the best players in the world,” Bautista Agut said post-match. “He’s been winning a lot of matches, he’s No. 2 in the world, so I’m very happy and proud about how I played today. I think I showed a great level on the court.”

Bautista Agut lost to Sinner in three sets back in Dubai a fortnight and will be keen to turn it around when he faces him in the penultimate round of action in a couple of days.

“It was a very tough match in Dubai, and it was a very tight score,” Bautista Agut said. “He’s playing great, he’s very solid and he has very good strokes. I think I’ll have to play another good match like tonight.

“Jannik is playing great… I have to say he will be one of the best players in the world. I want to enjoy another good match and be happy about playing in the semi-finals.”

In the earlier match 21st seed Sinner fought off 32nd seed Alexander Bublik in straight sets 7-6 6-4. The 31st ranked 19-year-old is in some terrific form, reaching his first ever Masters 1000 semi-final after winning his maiden quarter final against his more experienced opponent. He needed an hour and 41 minutes to take out the win, triumphing 7-5 in the first set before closing it out with an important break in the second set.

“We had a tough battle two weeks ago in Dubai. [It was] tough here today as well,” Sinner said post-match. “It was strange today. He was changing the game… I never had this kind of match, to be honest… I just tried to stay there, stick into the match and I am happy about my performance today.”

Sinner served up two aces to Bublik’s seven whilst saving seven of nine break points. He won a high 59 per cent of his second serve points, to go with his 63 per cent of his first serve points off a 64 per cent clip. Bublik also served at a 63 per cent success rate from his first serve points, but only managed the 47 per cent off his second serve and was broken three times.

“It is [difficult to keep your concentration against Bublik] because, at the point when you think you are playing good, he is doing something to take out your rhythm,” Sinner said. “It is strange because he has incredible hands and I think he is one of the most talented guys on Tour. He can do whatever he wants with the ball. A match against him can change very quickly.”

In the end, it was just seven points that separated the players, as Sinner won 88 total points compared to the Kazakh’s 81. Now the Italian will eye off two more wins to collect the third title of his career and second this season, with a 13-4 record in 2021 thus far. Prior to knowing his opponent for the semi-final, Sinner said he knew regardless of who it is, it was going to be a tough match.

“I am very happy [to be] playing one more match here in Miami,” Sinner said. “I think both [players] are very, very difficult players to play against. With Medvedev [in ATP] Head2Head, I am 0-2 [and] with Roberto I won a very tough one in Dubai two weeks ago. It is going to be a very interesting match and I think they will show a very high level this evening.”

MIAMI OPEN QUARTER FINALS RESULTS:

[1] Daniil Medvedev (RUS) [7] Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP)
[21] Jannik Sinner (ITA) defeated [32] Alexander Bublik (KAZ) 7-6 6-4

Picture credit: Michael Reaves/Getty Images