Jannik Sinner apologizes to Miami Open opponent after awkward accident

Jannik Sinner quickly apologised to his opponent, Alex Michelsen, after hitting him with the ball from close range. The world No.2 was facing the American in the last-16 of the Miami Open, with Sinner claiming a 7-5, 7-6(4) victory to advance to the quarter-final.

Michelsen proved a worthy adversary throughout the match, with Sinner needing to fight hard at times. The incident happened when the game hung in the balance, with both players locked at four games each in the first set. Michelsen had been serving in the ninth game, but following a brief rally, the 21 year old couldn't retrieve a shot from beneath his feet, leaving the ball sitting up invitingly for Sinner.

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The Italian had the whole court available to target, but, apparently caught between options, Sinner hammered the ball back to where it came from, accidentally striking Michelsen in the process. Elsewhere at the Miami Open, Sinner broke an incredible Novak Djokovic record, and an umpire was forced to halt a match as a 'disappointing situation' unfolded

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Instantly realizing his error, the four-time Grand Slam champion raised his arm to apologize and called out an apology in his direction. Sinner proceeded to claim the set before closing out the second through a tiebreaker. He will meet Frances Tiafoe in the quarter-final, as Sinner pursues an impressive Sunshine Double, having captured the title at Indian Wells earlier this month.

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In a post-match interview with Sky Sports, Sinner shared: "I feel like especially today, the serve helped me very much, especially in important moments.

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"Back of the court, if I'm very honest, I'm not feeling perfectly, so we try to improve.", reports the Express UK.

"From yesterday and today there are different conditions, playing night is different from playing in the day, but I'm happy to fight my way through this one, it was a very tough match, he played some great tennis, so happy how I handled the situations especially in the second set."

He further added: "I'm somebody who is not over the moon when I win matches and somebody who throws me under the bus when I'm losing matches, it would be not fair. I try to understand my game better, this comes also by playing.

"Being at this high level of tennis for the last couple of years I know my way back and what to do. We try to improve, today was a good feedback, I know if I want to go far in this tournament I need to improve a couple of things.

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