Novak Djokovic has stormed into the Miami Open semi-finals following a big win over Sebastian Korda.
The Serbian star needed a big performance in Miami, having lost his opening matches at the Qatar Open and Indian Wells tournaments.
In typical Djokovic fashion, it didn’t take him long to turn things around, beating Rinky Hijikata, Camilo Ugo Carabelli, and Lorenzo Musetti on his way to the quarterfinals.
Looking to reach his eighth Miami Open semi-final, Djokovic battled past Korda in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6, setting up a blockbuster clash with Grigor Dimitrov in the last four.
Ahead of his 14th career meeting with the Bulgarian, one top ATP coach explained how the 37-year-old is treated differently by the media than his rivals.
Paul Annacone says ‘the great ones’ like Novak Djokovic make more news when they lose
Roger Federer’s former coach Paul Annacone suggested the Serb is judged on a different scale to his ATP competitors.
“He’s won so much for so many years, like we talked about last night; the great ones tend to make more news when they lose,” said Annacone.
“Because he hasn’t had a huge sample size this year, that’s a lot of news because he hasn’t won very much, for him.”
Annacone then gave his honest opinion on how Djokovic’s level has improved throughout the tournament.
“It’s tough for him to find his match rhythm, but I think he’s playing a little bit better each match,” he said.
“I think he did a nice job today, that could’ve gone three sets very easily.
“Novak Djokovic in the semis of a [Masters] 1000, hard to bet against the guy, he’s been there a few times.”
Since 2020, Djokovic boasts a remarkable 9-2 record in Masters 1000 semi-finals, winning six titles during that period.
- 2020 Italian Open SF – Won (Beat Diego Schwartzman in F)
- 2020 Cincinatti Open SF – Won (Beat Milos Raonic in F)
- 2021 Italian Open SF – Won (Lost to Rafael Nadal in F)
- 2021 Paris Masters SF – Won (Beat Daniil Medvedev in F)
- 2022 Madrid Open SF – Lost (Carlos Alcaraz)
- 2022 Italian Open SF – Won (Beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in F)
- 2022 Paris Masters SF – Won (Lost to Holger Rune in F)
- 2023 Cincinnati Open SF – Won (Beat Carlos Alcaraz in F)
- 2023 Paris Masters SF – Won (Beat Grigor Dimitrov in F)
- 2024 Monte Carlo Masters SF – Lost (Casper Ruud)
- 2024 Shanghai Masters SF – Won (Lost to Jannik Sinner in F)
Djokovic beat Taylor Fritz in his last visit to a Masters 1000 semi-final, taking the American down in Shanghai last year.
Novak Djokovic’s head-to-head record against the 2025 Miami Open semi-finalists
The Serbian star has won 40 Masters 1000 titles during his career, more than any other player in tennis history.
Djokovic does, therefore, enter this year’s Miami Open semi-finals as the favorite, especially considering his head-to-head record against the opposition.
In 24 meetings with Dimitrov, Fritz, and Jakub Mensik, Djokovic has lost just once, at the Madrid Open to Dimitrov 12 years ago.
Fritz and Mensik have both previously pushed the 24-time Major champion to a deciding set, with the former giving Djokovic a real scare at the 2021 Australian Open.
A physically struggling Djokovic was in danger of being dumped out of the tournament by the 27th seed when he eventually found his second wind in the fifth set.
Winning in five, 7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2, Djokovic advanced, clinching his ninth title at Melbourne Park with a victory over Daniil Medvedev one week later.
Young Czech star, Jakub Mensik, impressed Djokovic in their one career meeting, as he pushed him all the way in Shanghai last year.
Taking the first set in a tiebreaker, 7-6 [7-4], Mensik looked primed to cause an almighty upset in China.
It wasn’t to be, however, as Djokovic dominated the second 6-1, before he took the third 6-4, knocking Mensik out of the Shanghai Masters.
Only time will tell if anyone can stop Djokovic in Miami this year, but history certainly seems to be on the Serb’s side as he prepares to take on Dimitrov on Friday, March 28.
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