Novak Djokovic delivered his most dominant performance since the Australian Open, storming past Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti 6-2, 6-2 to secure a spot in the Miami Open quarter-finals. The Serbian won 12 of the last 14 games, showcasing his trademark intensity and precision.
A rain delay and a serve clock warning in the opening set initially disrupted Djokovic’s rhythm, but the frustration seemed to fuel him. After breaking for a 4-2 lead, he never looked back, much to the delight of a star-studded crowd that included Serena Williams and Juan Martin del Potro.
“I was star-struck. It was amazing to see DelPo, a long-time friend and rival, and then Serena—what a surprise,” Djokovic said. He even playfully acknowledged Williams during the match, later saying, “If Serena says my shot was fine, then it was amazing by everyone else’s standards.”
A six-time champion in Miami, Djokovic sealed the win in emphatic fashion, crushing a backhand winner for a 5-2 second-set lead before Musetti double-faulted on match point. Next, the fourth seed faces American Sebastian Korda, who edged out Gael Monfils 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. Korda and Djokovic’s only previous meeting was a closely contested final in Adelaide in 2023.
Meanwhile, Argentine Francisco Cerundolo stunned fifth-seeded Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-2, continuing his strong record in Miami. The 14th seed, Grigor Dimitrov, also moved into the quarter-finals after dispatching Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 7-5.
On the women’s side, Italy’s Jasmine Paolini fought past Magda Linette, saving seven of eight break points to reach the semi-finals. She will face world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated China’s Zheng Qinwen 6-2, 7-5 in a rematch of their 2024 Australian Open final.
“Always tough battles against her,” Sabalenka said, after extending her head-to-head record against Zheng to 6-0. “I had to work really hard, especially in that second set, but I’m proud of how I fought for every point.”
With the competition heating up, the Miami Open promises even more thrilling matchups as the tournament nears its climax.
