‘Big Week For Italy!’ Sinner Hopeful Of Azzuri World Cup Ultimatum After Sunshine Double

Last Updated:March 30, 2026, 5:17 PM IST

Following his win at Miami, Sinner noted Italy’s crucial game against Bosnia in their quest for a World Cup spot after having missed the previous two editions.

Jannik Sinner of Italy walks on the court after serving an ace against Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic in the men’s singles final at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Jannik Sinner scripted history with the Sunshine Double, as he clinched the crown at the Miami Open to add to his Indian Wells title, during a week his home nation seeks to qualify for the FIFA World Cup after two failed attempts to do so on the trot.

Sinner breezed past Jiri Lehecka in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 to clinch the ATP title without dropping a set along the way. Following the win, he noted Italy’s crucial game against Bosnia in their quest for a World Cup spot after having missed the previous two editions.

“It has been an amazing weekend for us italians, I’m happy to be part of this group,” Sinner said.

“Now we have an important game in football, we play against Bosnia… Let’s see. Don’t ask me to predict, I’m very bad,” he added.

Italy also experienced joy on the fast lane as Marco Bezzecchi and Kimi Antonelli clinched the titles in their respective MotoGP and F1 engagements over the weekend too.

Four-time FIFA World Cup winners Italy, look to secure their place at the 2026 edition of the event slated to be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico, with a win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup qualifier.

Italy, who missed qualification for the last two World Cups in Russia and Qatar, can’t afford to miss the flight to North America.

Italy will travel to Bilino Polje Stadium with the pressure of punching their ticket to the quadrennial spectacle for the first time since 2014, and if the famously rowdy atmosphere of the ground wasn’t enough pressure already, the Azzuris gave Bosnia yet more reason to go for the win after certain players of the Italian squad, especially full-back Federico Dimarco, celebrated Bosnia’s win over Wales on penalties in the match leading up to their encounter wildly.

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