‘Star-struck’ Novak Djokovic soaks up support of Serena Williams and other greats after easing into Miami Open quarters
Updated 26/03/2025 at 07:30 GMT
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Novak Djokovic is into the last eight at the Miami Open after a dominant victory against Lorenzo Musetti. Play was delayed after heavy rain in Florida, but the six-time Miami champion was not impacted by the wait. Djokovic, who was watched by coach Andy Murray, will play American Sebastian Korda in the quarter-finals, after the latter beat Gael Monfils.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates his victory over Camilo Ugo Carabelli of Argentina in the third round of the men's singles at the Miami Open.
Image credit: Getty Images
Novak Djokovic enjoyed seeing some stars of the sport in attendance as he cruised past Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals of the Miami Open.
It has been an indifferent season for the 24-time Grand Slam champion so far, but he seems to be hitting form at the second leg of the Sunshine Double.
He wrapped up a convincing 6-2 6-2 win over Musetti to set up a last-eight clash with Sebastian Korda and thanked his former rival Juan Martin del Potro and tennis legend Serena Williams for coming out to watch.
"I was star-struck!" Djokovic said. "It was amazing to see first DelPo [Del Potro], obviously a long-time friend and a rival, so happy to have him around and get his support from the box.
"It was amazing, it was [the] first time to have DelPo in the box, so I want to thank him really for coming. And Serena, that was a surprise. I didn't know."
Djokovic also shared a nice moment he enjoyed with Williams after a stunning backhand winner that took him within a game of victory.
"Actually, when I had that down-the-line passing shot, I pointed to her and asked her whether it was okay," he added. "She kind of said, 'Yeah, it was fine'. If Serena says it was fine, then it was amazing by everyone else's standards. So yeah, great to have them."
Despite his eventual dominance, it was a rusty start from Djokovic, who lost the first two points of his opening service game and then found himself 15-40 down, already asked to defend two break points. And the game was gifted to Musetti with a double fault, met by a murmur of surprise from the Miami crowd.
Having earned a rapid break, Musetti won his first service game relatively comfortably. It was the ideal start for the Italian after a long rain delay in Miami.
But Djokovic was unfazed, holding his serve and then breaking back after a long fourth game that ebbed and flowed.
The following game was equally long, going to deuce and eventually going Djokovic's way despite some uncharacteristic errors. And the Serbian was angered when he was warned for a time violation, exchanging words with the umpire when the game concluded.
"What are you trying to achieve? This is not your first match, right?" Djokovic said. Umpire Fergus Murphy responded: "All I can say is, keep watching the clock. We've done this for about a year now."
Djokovic, still visibly irritated, then made it four games in a row and a second break to go 4-2 up, easing any concerns from the opening stages of the match.
He cruised through a service game, beginning to play with some swagger, and then broke again to take the set 6-2.
The second set continued in a similar fashion, Musetti unable to live with Djokovic's increasingly accurate shot placement. The latter won the first two games of the set, making it four successive breaks and eight games in a row, coinciding with his row with the umpire.
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Another hold of serve followed, and Djokovic was turning on the style, finishing a high-quality rally with a superb backhand passing shot. Musetti showed some much-needed resilience in his next service game, saving two break points and taking it to deuce, before winning his first game of the set.
But it was a momentary reprieve. Djokovic won the next game to love, moving to within two games of victory.
After Musetti held again, Djokovic did the same to go 5-2 up and to the brink of a surprisingly comfortable victory. His resistance broken, the Italian lost another service game as Djokovic secured an impressive win.
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