In the presence of football superstar Lionel Messi, Novak Djokovic advanced to the Miami Open final with a commanding victory over 14th-seeded Grigor Dimitrov, winning 6-2, 6-3 on Friday at Hard Rock Stadium.
The fourth-seeded Serbian will compete for his seventh Miami Open championship on Sunday against unseeded Jakub Mensik, aged 19, who secured a remarkable victory against third-seeded Taylor Fritz in Friday's other semifinal match with scores of 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 7-6 (7-4).
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Djokovic, at 37 years old, aims to secure his 100th professional title, having previously won six times when the tournament was held at its former location in Key Biscayne.
His performance has declined in 2024, beginning with a withdrawal due to injury at the Australian Open in January. At Indian Wells earlier this month, he suffered a first-round defeat against Botic van de Zandschulp.
During his post-match court interview, Djokovic recognised that Messi, who currently represents Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, was present, referring to him as "King Leo."
Djokovic revealed that Messi, accompanied by his wife and children, visited the locker room where they exchanged presents. Whilst Djokovic had previously attended Messi's matches, this marked the first occasion where the football star watched him play.
"Obviously, it's a thrill to have his whole family,'' Djokovic said. "It's a huge honor. He's such a great athlete, not just a football player. His impact on the world of sports in the last 20 years has been immense.
"To have him watch me live brings me great joy and excitement and also a little pressure. It's definitely different when he brings his family. I was touched by that."
During the third game, play was halted when security personnel escorted a disruptive spectator from the venue. The chair umpire descended from his position and approached the stands whilst summoning security staff.
Dimitrov engaged in a verbal exchange with the spectator and proceeded to direct the umpire's attention to the location of the troublesome fan at the sideline.
"It's just heckling, it's fine,'' Dimitrov said. "I'm a very calm guy overall. I don't pick any fights but don't trigger me.''
Dimitrov advanced past Francisco Cerundulo in the quarter-finals. Following his victory, he remained on court for 25 minutes, requiring a wheelchair due to experiencing dizziness. Tournament medical staff assisted him off the court, and he subsequently cancelled his scheduled post-match press conference.
When discussing the incident, Dimitrov acknowledged receiving water and ice treatment, stating "I don't have a recollection of exactly what happened. We're putting our bodies through so much. It's one of those matches where you have to carry me out of the court somehow.''
Despite Dimitrov securing an early break against Djokovic in the opening game, Djokovic regained composure and secured the first set in 32 minutes.
The current men's record holder of 24 Grand Slam titles displayed remarkable serving efficiency, landing 87% of first serves with merely six misses throughout the match. He maintained exceptional control, recording only five unforced errors during the 70-minute contest.
"Now I know how it feels to be (John) Isner and (Reilly) Opelka,'' Djokovic said of two serving behemoths. "Maybe my serve has been a bit underrated."
Djokovic extended his dominant head-to-head record against Dimitrov to 13-1. The Bulgarian player showcased his finest performance during the match.
"He wears confidence like a stain on your shirt,'' Dimitrov said. "It's beautiful to see. Only a few athletes on Earth possess that quality.''
Mensik, who entered the Miami Open as world number 54, has yet to reach a final in an ATP 1,000-point tournament.
In a crucial moment against Fritz, he displayed remarkable composure at 4-4 in the final tiebreaker, securing victory by winning three consecutive points.
Throughout the match lasting two hours and 25 minutes, Mensik failed to break serve but managed to win with a brilliant backhand winner down the line at 5-4. Fritz subsequently lost the next two points, sending a forehand long after a 20-shot exchange and netting a forehand on match point.
Prior to the match, Mensik had a handshake with Messi. "I didn't wash my hands before I stepped on the court," Mensik said.
Tennis inspiration came to Mensik through Djokovic, whom he faced in a three-set match at the Shanghai Masters last October. The age difference between them stands at 18 years.
"It feels incredible, unbelievable (to play him),'' Mensik said. "It was a dream to play against him in Shanghai. I'm a better player now than I was in Shanghai.''
