Novak Djokovic had arrived in Miami with many doubts, especially after a very poor performance against Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round of the Indian Wells Masters 1000. The former world No. 1 necessarily needed a strong reaction, and his performance in the first three matches in Florida induced optimism.
The Serbian ace reached the quarterfinals in the second Masters 1000 of the season without losing a single set and raising his level as the days went by, eventually demolishing Lorenzo Musetti in the round of 16 thanks to an excellent performance in all respects.
The 37-year-old from Belgrade hopes to win the 100th title of his remarkable career as early as Miami, but he is aware that his run is full of obstacles still and that every day is different at his age. Nole has not won three matches in a row in a Masters 1000 since the 2024 Rolex Shanghai Masters last October, when he was defeated by Jannik Sinner in the final.
His next opponent will be local idol Sebastian Korda, who eliminated Gael Monfils yesterday at the end of a really tough battle conditioned by rain.
The Serbian and the American have faced each other once on the pro tour – in the 2023 Adelaide ATP 250 final – when Novak prevailed after a truly spectacular match.
Musetti on Djokovic’s current level
Musetti – who faced Djokovic in the round of 16 in Miami winning only four games – warned all the other players still present in Florida about the Serb’s current level: “The feeling I had is that Nole has grown further than the previous times I faced him, I know it’s hard to believe but that’s how it is.
Only at the beginning of the match I was able to impose my game, then I didn’t put him in trouble anymore and the serve didn’t help me much. I have to compliment him on the level at which he played, at one point he was really unplayable.”
However-at almost 38 years old-it is not easy to play at the same level for several days in a row.
Tennis World USA