Novak Djokovic unlocks one other achievement after reaching Miami Open 2025 semi-finals

Novak Djokovic added one other feather to his cap on Thursday after advancing to the semi-finals of the continuing Miami Open with a 6-3, 7-6(7-4) victory over USA’s Sebastian Korda. The 24-time Grand Slam champion, who had realised his lifelong dream of successful Olympic gold in Paris final yr, thus grew to become the oldest man to succeed in the semi-finals of a Masters 1000 occasion at 37 years and 10 months previous.

The match was initially scheduled to happen on Wednesday however ended up getting rescheduled to Thursday after Emma Raducanu’s quarter-final match in opposition to American Jessica Pegula didn’t finish till after 11 pm native time.

The 37-year-old Serb made a robust begin in opposition to Korda, breaking early to get a primary set benefit that he by no means let slip however Korda confirmed nice resilience within the second set, taking the competition to a tie-break.

However the fourth seed, on the lookout for his seventh Miami Open title however first since 2016, once more got here up sturdy, sealing the win with a strong ace.

‘In all probability the very best serving efficiency’: Djokovic

Djokovic, who will face Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov on Friday, had little question what had been the important thing to his success after successful 84 per cent of his first-serve factors.

“One phrase, serve. I used to be serving very effectively, most likely the very best serving efficiency, not simply right here, however in a very long time,” he informed reporters.

“Eleven aces, after I wanted to seek out the primary serve. It makes life simpler on the courtroom when you find yourself feeling your serve. I wanted it within the second set after I suppose Korda was feeling his floor strokes a lot better.”

A victory at Miami can be a landmark one hundredth singles title for the 24-time Grand Slam champion and he mentioned he’s glad to be refinding a prime stage.

“I’m clearly enjoying the very best tennis I’ve performed in fairly a while. It’s nice after I expertise tournaments like this and performances like this. It motivates me and encourages me to maintain going for extra,” he mentioned.

Novak on the ATTACK 🔥

The second @DjokerNole defeated Korda to stay excellent (8-0) in #MiamiOpen quarter-finals! pic.twitter.com/hWi7yLL8cq

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 27, 2025

Czech teenager Jakub Mensik marched into his first Masters semi when he defeated France’s Arthur Fils 7-6 (7/5), 6-1.

Fils had loved one of many largest wins of his profession on Wednesday when he defeated prime seed Alexander Zverev however he struggled to repeat the feat in opposition to the spectacular 19-year-old Mensik.

The towering Czech’s massive serve was an excessive amount of for Fils, who had come by three-set battles with Frances Tiafoe and Zverev and confirmed indicators of tiredness.

“It feels unbelievable. I believe the most important outcome up to now in my profession, so I’m glad I simply saved going for the reason that first spherical,” mentioned Mensik.

“That’s the important thing, to maintain the main target in the course of the two weeks, as a result of it’s at all times powerful. The job isn’t executed.”

Mensik broke out to an early 4-1 lead however then let Fils again into the competition with the 20-year-old Frenchman forcing a tie-break.

However having survived that comeback from Fils, Mensik was rock strong within the second set as he powered his method to victory in 75 minutes.

Mensik, ranked 54th on the earth, will subsequent face American third seed Taylor Fritz, who got here by an enthralling battle with Italian Matteo Berrettini with a 7-5, 6-7 (7/9), 7-5.

Berrettini regarded buried within the second set tie-break when he trailed 6-3 however his booming serve and a few unbelievable returns gave him the chance of a deciding set. In complete, Berrettini saved six match factors within the second set.

It was nip and tuck with the pair on serve till Fritz, working onerous on the baseline, broke to go 6-5 up after which held on for the win.

“Clearly gave myself a variety of probabilities all through the match. I want I may have made it occur within the second set,” mentioned Fritz.

“I believe I made it extraordinarily powerful for myself. He raised his stage and performed rather well within the third, so I needed to work, you recognize, additional onerous to win the third set and lift my stage, as effectively.

“After not closing it out, not successful these match factors, I believe I confirmed one in every of my largest strengths in resetting and with the ability to win the third.”

With AFP inputs