Introduction to the Match
Novak Djokovic is finding a higher gear in South Florida after a sluggish start to 2025. Djokovic, gunning for his seventh Miami Open title, dispatched American Sebastian Korda 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) Thursday in one hour, 24 minutes in a quarterfinal match that was postponed from Wednesday night because the women’s quarterfinal between Jessica Pegula and Emma Raducanu ran past 11 p.m. and would have begun at about midnight — against new ATP rules.
Advance to Semifinals
Djokovic advanced to Friday’s semifinals and will face Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov. Djokovic is 12-1 against the 33-year-old Dimitrov, who reached the tournament finals in 2024. Djokovic, who won all six of his titles at the tournament’s previous venue at Key Biscayne, is going for his 100th professional title.
Djokovic’s Performance
“I’m getting great support,” Djokovic said. “I feel I have a really good chance to go all the way here. …I’m playing the best I have in some time.” With the Hard Rock Stadium fans cheering the 37-year-old and chanting his name, Djokovic rallied in the second set from 4-1 and 5-2 down to win in a tiebreaker.
He served an ace on match point and finished with an 83 first-service percentage against the 24th-seeded Korda. The 37-year-old Serbian let out a yell after the victory and strummed his racket like a violin.
Key to Success
“One word — serve,” Djokovic said when asked the key to his second-set surge. “I was serving very well — best serving performance in a long time.” The men’s leader in Grand Slam titles at 24 has been out of form this year, starting with an injury retirement at the Australian Open in January. Earlier this month, Djokovic lost his first match at Indian Wells to Botic van de Zandschulp.
Women’s Semifinals
Saturday’s women’s final is set with No. 3 Jessica Pegula facing top seed Aryna Sabalenka. It is also a rematch of the 2024 U.S. Open final, won by Sabalenka. In the women’s semifinal staged late Thursday, Pegula had to be spectacularly resilient to stop the history-making run of the 19-year-old lefty from the Philippines, Alexandra Eala.
Michele Eve Sandberg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – MARCH 27: Novak Djokovic (SRB) wins his men’s singles quarterfinal match at the Miami Open on March 27, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Pegula won in a rollercoaster 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 6-3 victory in a contest that ended at 12:40 a.m. Friday.
Other Matches
In the two hour, 26 minute match, Eala showed she is a crafty lefty star in the making with drop shots, deft volleys and a big forehand. The Hard Rock Stadium fans rooted on the player who had taken out major champions Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek previously. In the first women’s semifinal, Sabalenka routed sixth-seeded Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-2 in 71 minutes. Paolini, the 2024 French Open finalist, spent some of the afternoon smirking at Sabalenka’s deft shot-making.
Conclusion
Djokovic’s win over Korda has set him up for a potential seventh Miami Open title. With his strong serve and determination, he is a force to be reckoned with in the tournament. The women’s final between Pegula and Sabalenka promises to be an exciting match, with both players showing great skill and resilience in their semifinal wins.
FAQs
Q: Who did Novak Djokovic beat in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open?
A: Novak Djokovic beat Sebastian Korda in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open.
Q: Who will Djokovic face in the semifinals?
A: Djokovic will face Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in the semifinals.
Q: What is Djokovic’s current record against Dimitrov?
A: Djokovic is 12-1 against Dimitrov.
Q: Who will play in the women’s final of the Miami Open?
A: No. 3 Jessica Pegula will face top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the women’s final.
