MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Novak Djokovic showcased his prowess once again at the Miami Open, this time with a special guest in attendance.
With soccer legend Lionel Messi enjoying the action from a plush suite, Djokovic stormed into the finals with a commanding 6-2, 6-3 victory over 14th seed Grigor Dimitrov at Hard Rock Stadium on Friday.
The fourth-seeded Djokovic is on a quest for his seventh Miami Open crown, marking his return to the tournament after a four-year hiatus. At 37, the Serbian ace, who previously clinched six titles at the event’s former venue in Key Biscayne, is also eyeing his 100th professional championship.
Despite facing some challenges this season, including an injury retirement at the Australian Open and an early exit at Indian Wells, Djokovic appears to be regaining his form.
His next challenge awaits against the victor of the Taylor Fritz-Jakub Mensik semifinal taking place later Friday night.
During his on-court interview, Djokovic acknowledged the presence of Messi, who currently plays for Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami. “It’s incredibly special to play here after a six-year break in one of the best cities in the world,” he remarked.
Djokovic had to withdraw last year after his second match at Indian Wells, deciding to take some needed time off with his family.
However, the semifinal match encountered a brief interruption when a fan was ejected from the stands during the third game, prompting the chair umpire to intervene after a verbal exchange between Dimitrov and the spectator.
Dimitrov, who had previously defeated Francisco Cerundolo in the quarters, experienced dizziness and required assistance from tournament medical staff post-match.
Djokovic faced an early setback, getting broken by Dimitrov in the opening game, but quickly composed himself, taking the first set in just 32 minutes.
Leading 3-0 in the second set, the 24-time Grand Slam champion had committed only four unforced errors and extended his impressive head-to-head record against Dimitrov to 13 victories and just 1 defeat.
