Novak Djokovic embroiled in frosty umpire exchange as he cruises into Miami Open quarters - ‘Of course it’s about you!'

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Novak Djokovic was involved in a heated exchange with the umpire during his straight-set win over Lorenzo Musetti in the fourth round of the Miami Open. The 37-year-old was given a warning early in the match and hit out at the umpire at the change of ends. Djokovic quickly put the incident behind him, though, and sealed a 6-2 6-2 victory to set up a quarter-final clash with Sebastian Korda.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia gestures while playing Lorenzo Musetti of Italy during the Miami Open on March 25, 2025.

Image credit: Getty Images

Novak Djokovic was less than impressed with umpire Fergus Murphy during his fourth-round clash with Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti at the Miami Open.

The Serbian, fresh off a record 411th win at a Masters 1000 event, was in a typically tenacious mood in the early exchanges with Musetti and got involved in a heated back and forth with the man in the chair at the change of ends while leading 3-2 in the opening set.

Murphy gave Djokovic a time violation warning in the fifth game of the match, something that clearly irked the 24-time Grand Slam champion, who gestured his annoyance at the call but resisted the urge to launch an immediate protest.

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Instead, he waited until he had held serve to make his feelings clear.

"It’s not about me, it’s about the procedure," Murphy said, before being cut off.

"Of course it’s about you Fergus," Djokovic replied. "You gave me the warning [the] first time I was even close [in] the fifth game of the match."

"All I can say is keep watching the clock, I’m not in control of the clock," countered Murphy.

Players have 25 seconds to serve after the previous point ends and there is a shot clock at each side of the court to keep everyone right.

The incident perhaps spurred Djokovic on, though, as he reeled off the next three games to take a one-set advantage.

He then appeared unhappy at Murphy again at 3-0 in the second set when the umpire refused to call a ball out after an audacious defensive shot from Musetti, but put that behind him to complete a comfortable victory and advance to the quarter-finals.

Djokovic, who admitted he was "star-struck" with Juan Martin del Potro and Serena Williams cheering him on in Miami, will face Sebastian Korda next as he looks to seal his first title of 2025.

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