Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka advanced with commanding victories at the Miami Open, keeping their Sunshine Double hopes intact while several top seeds exited early.
Sabalenka, world number one and defending champion, dominated Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals. She aims to join Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka, and Iga Swiatek as winners of both Indian Wells and Miami in the same year. Confident in her form, Sabalenka now faces American Hailey Baptiste, who joined Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula in the last eight.
Sinner, chasing his second Miami crown after triumphing in 2024, eased past French seed Corentin Moutet 6-1, 6-4. He next meets American Alex Michelsen, who upset Alejandro Tabilo.
The men’s draw saw drama as defending champion Jakub Mensik fell to Frances Tiafoe in a marathon 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 battle lasting nearly three hours. Mensik saved six match points before Tiafoe finally closed the contest. Tiafoe now faces Terence Atmane, who eliminated Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Seeds continued to tumble with Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz, Alex De Minaur, and Ben Shelton all bowing out. Alexander Zverev survived a scare against Marin Cilic, winning 6-2, 5-7, 6-4, while Ugo Humbert defeated Alexander Shevchenko.
The Sunshine Double remains the ultimate prize for Sinner and Sabalenka, both riding momentum from Indian Wells and eyeing history in Miami.
