Djokovic Gears Up for Miami Open Semifinals
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Novak Djokovic is hitting a new stride in South Florida after a slow beginning to the 2025 season.
Quarterfinal Victory Against Korda
The Serbian, aiming for his seventh Miami Open title, triumphed over American Sebastian Korda with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (4), in a quarterfinal match that lasted 1 hour and 24 minutes. The match was delayed from Wednesday evening due to the lengthy women’s quarterfinal between Jessica Pegula and Emma Raducanu, which ran past 11 p.m., conflicting with new ATP regulations.
Advancement to the Semifinals
At 37 years of age, Djokovic is set to compete in the semifinals against Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov, against whom he holds a 12-1 record. Dimitrov reached the finals of the tournament in 2024.
Pursuing His 100th Title
Djokovic, who has previously secured all six of his tournament titles at the former location in Key Biscayne, is on the lookout for his 100th professional title. “The support has been incredible,” Djokovic expressed. “I feel I have a solid chance of going all the way here. … I’m playing at my best in quite a while.”
Impressive Comeback
Despite competing against an American player, Hard Rock Stadium fans cheered for Djokovic, who rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the second set to win through a tiebreaker. He served an ace on match point and finished with an outstanding 83% first-service success rate against Korda, seeded 24th. After securing the victory, he expressed his excitement and playfully mimicked playing a violin with his racket.
Challenges Earlier in the Season
Djokovic, who holds the record for the most Grand Slam titles with 24, has recently struggled with form. His year began with an injury-related retirement at the Australian Open in January, and he had previously lost his opening match at Indian Wells earlier this month against Botic Van De Zandschulp.
Upcoming Women’s Final
The women’s final is set for Saturday, featuring No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula against top seed Aryna Sabalenka, a rematch of the 2024 U.S. Open final in which Sabalenka emerged victorious. On Thursday, Pegula displayed remarkable resilience in her semifinal victory against 19-year-old Alexandra Eala, winning 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 6-3 in a match that concluded after midnight.
