Jannik Sinner advanced to his fourth Miami Open semifinal with a straight-sets win over American Frances Tiafoe on Thursday in Miami Gardens, Fla. Photo by Cristobal Herrera-Ulashkevich/EPA

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla., March 26 (UPI) — Jannik Sinner was a steaming howitzer, spraying fuzzy felt shells across an Oasis blue court, as an exhausted Frances Tiafoe struggled to find his footing in a dominant quarterfinal victory Thursday at the 2026 Miami Open.

The Italian tennis sensation, who missed the tournament last year because of a doping ban, roared into his fourth Miami Open semifinal with the 6-2, 6-2 triumph at Hard Rock Stadium. He needed just 71 minutes to dispatched the American.

“I know that he might be slightly tired, so I tried to make it as physical as possible,” Sinner said in his on-court interview.

With the victory, Sinner, who won the 2024 Miami Open title, also inched closer to becoming just the eighth man to achieve a sunshine double. Roger Federer was the last to accomplish the feat — winning consecutive-titles at Indian Wells and Miami in the same year — when he did so in 2017.

Sinner won each of his first four 2026 Miami Open matches in straight sets, extending his record of 30 consecutive set victories.

The world’s No. 2 player will take on No. 19 Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina or No. 3 Alexander Zverev of Germany for a ticket to the men’s singles semifinals.

The Italian fired 33 winners and 15 unforced errors. He also converted 4 of 7 break point opportunities. Tiafoe, who will could from No. 20 to 19 in the ATP rankings due to his performance in Miami, logged seven winners and 16 unforced errors.

“From the first time I came here I’ve always felt very comfortable and the court suits my game style,” Sinner said.

Cerundolo will play Zverev in the last men’s singles quarterfinal of the 2026 Miami Open on Thursday night in Miami Gardens. Sinner will meet Zverev or Cerundolo in second semifinal Friday night at Hard Rock Stadium.

The winner of that match will take on No. 31 Arthur Fils of France or No. 22 Jiri Lehecka of Czechia on Sunday in the men’s singles final.