Six-time Miami Open champion Novak Djokovic beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-2 6-2 in 1 hour and 2 minutes into return to reach the quarter finals at the Masters 1000 in Florida for the eighth time in his career and the first in nine years. Djokovic earned his eighth win from nine head-to-head matches against Musetti.
Djokovic is just three three wins away from his 100th ATP Tour title.
The math was attended by Serena Williams and Juan Martin Del Potro, who was in his box.
“I was starstruck! It was amazing to see first 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. Serena, that was a surprise. I didn’t know. Actually, when I had that down-the-line passing shot, I pointed to her and asked her whether it was okay. 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”, said Djokovic in the post-match interview.
Djokovic dropped his serve only once from the only break point he faced. The former world number 1 player won 54% of his return points and converted 5 of his 12 break points.
Djokovic fired 18 winners to 17 unforced errors. Musetti produced 10 winners to 18 unforced errors. They hit only 14 service winners combined.
Musetti early an early break in the first game and held his service to take a 2-0 lead. Djokovic fought back by winning nine straight games to build a 6-2 3-0 lead with three breaks in the fourth, sixth and eighth games of the first set and in the second game of the second set. Djokovic held on his next service and sealed the second set 6-2 with a break on his first match point.
“He had a really good start of the match. First couple games I started a little bit slow and then I knew that if I give him time, he’s going to make his shots. He loves kind of running around his backhand, hitting forehands. But he is so talented, he can play any shot in the game on any surface. It was tough, particularly in the first seven, eight games of the match. But I think breaking his serve to come back to 2-all and break right away at 3-2, it was a momentum shift and I tried to use that”, said Djokovic.
Djokovic set up a quarter final match against Sebastian Korda, who battled past Sebastian Korda 6-4 2-6 6-4. Djokovic saved a championship point in his only previous head-to-head match against Korda in the Adelaide final in 2023.
Korda converted his second break point in the third game and held serve at love to take a 3-1 lead. The US player served out the opening set on his third set point. Monfils broke serve at love in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead and saved two break points to hold serve in the seventh game for 5-2. The Frenchman broke serve on his second set point to win the second set 6-2. Korda broke serve in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead and sealed the win on his second match point. The match was suspended by rain when he was a break up in the third set.
“I think I got pretty negative as well. I was thinking about a couple points versus the match overall. Just got negative about the little things instead of saying overall that everything was going pretty well. Just kind of had to refocus, be positive again and keep trying my best”, said Korda.
