Preview Miami Open ATP 2026 Semi-finals | Sinner and Zverev clash once more as Lehecka and Fils battle out for maiden Masters 1000 final

It is men's semi-final time at the Miami Open. While the bottom half of the draw went to routine with the number two and three seeds, Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev, avoiding any obstacles, the top half has seen an opportunistic Jiri Lehecka and Arthur Fils storm into this stage of the tournament. One more win and they will get into the final, but only two players will be battling it out for the honour of calling themselves the 2026 Miami Open champion.

First up to bat is Lehecka in a second Masters 1000 semi-final coming up against the hugely impressive Fils who continues his mesmerising journey back from injury by going one further than last year.

The Frenchman reached the first three Masters 1000 quarterfinals in 2025, a hugely impressive return for a player with so much potential. A back injury marred what could have been a phenomenal end to the season with the top 10 in sight, but that possibility could now come to fruition if he continues in the rich vein of form currently enjoying. He has already earned more points than he got from the Sunshine double last time out, and with virtually nothing to defend from Roland Garros onwards, he is in a lavish position to capitalise.

The 28th seed has ridden his luck en route to a maiden Masters 1000 semi-final. This would not come in the opening ties against wildcard Darwin Blanch (6-2, 6-3) and Stefanos Tsitsipas (6-0, 6-1). Especially against the former two-time Grand Slam finalist, Fils showed his worth. He had to battle hard to take down the Shanghai Masters champion Valentin Vacherot (6-4, 6-7(4), 6-4) before incredibly battling from the depths against Tommy Paul (6-7(3), 7-6(4), 7-6(6)) to book his spot in the semi-final. He was faced with four match points after previously missing one of his own in the prior game. He went on to win six points on the bounce to not only defend those match points but to set up and take his second chance in a highly exhilarating end to a thrilling matchup.

The momentum is very much on his side, and Fils has already defeated a Czech opponent to reach a final in 2026. First was the reigning Miami Open champion Jakub Mensik in the Qatar Open; now he will be hoping to do the same against Jiri Lehecka, whom he also beat in that majestic run in Doha.

After a slow start to the campaign, Lehecka is starting to strut his stuff in Florida. He matches his best result in a Masters 1000 since the 2024 Madrid Open semi-final run, reaching a third quarterfinal at this level. After losing at the first stage of Indian Wells, Lehecka was determined to get back on form on the other side of the country.

He has done so in exemplary style, dropping just one set in the process. He began by taking down 17-year-old Moise Kouame (6-2, 7-5) before getting the better of Ethan Quinn (6-3, 7-6(6)) and, most notably, former US Open finalist Taylor Fritz (6-4, 6-7(4), 6-2). He followed all of this up by ending the dream run for qualifier Martin Landaluce (7-6(1), 7-5). He will reach a career-high ranking of world number 14 if he makes the final.

For the second time in this Sunshine double, Sinner and Zverev will take to the court together. Both players have impressed since traversing to North America, but it has been Sinner whose really taken the spotlight.

The world number two is seemingly back to his best after a ropey start to 2026. Losing in the semi-finals of the Australian Open to Novak Djokovic before coming unstuck against Mensik in the last-eight stage of the Qatar Open had fans worried and confused on what was going on. As Alcaraz streaked into the distance, Sinner would reel him in at Indian Wells, winning the title in a tense final against Daniil Medvedev. While Alcaraz was dumped out in the early rounds, Sinner continues to plough on, not even dropping a set since the start of Indian Wells.

It will take some performance to get the better of him. He commenced his quest to become the eighth ATP player to complete the Sunshine double by defeating Damir Dzumhur (6-3, 6-3). This was followed by wins over Corentin Moutet (6-1, 6-4) and Alex Michelsen (7-5, 7-6(4)). Another American, this time in the form of Frances Tiafoe, would be his next victim (6-2, 6-2) as the Italian makes it into a fourth Miami Open semi-final. The 2024 champion has never lost at this stage, reaching three finals but only winning the most recent one.

Semi-finals for Zverev, however, seem to be his ceiling for the time being. Four of his last five Masters 1000 involvements have seen him end up losing in the semi-final, two of which came against Sinner. The most recent was his loss at Indian Wells, making it six on the spin for Sinner in what is becoming a dominant head-to-head record going the way of the four-time Grand Slam champion.

Zverev is looking close to his best again. His serving massively let him down in their last matchup and he will need that if he is going to stand any chance of reaching a first Masters 1000 final since winning the 2024 Paris Masters.

The 2018 finalist has breezed through the matches so far, not falling into the trap many top 10 tennis players have fallen into. He avoided early round defeats against Martin Damm Jr (6-2, 6-4), Marin Cilic (6-2, 5-7, 6-4) and Quentin Halys (7-6(4), 7-6(1)). His most impressive and dominant performance came in the quarterfinals against Francisco Cerundolo. He swept aside the Argentine (6-1, 6-2) to book his place in a second Miami Open final and a 24th Masters 1000 semi-final.