Djokovic Dominates Musetti to Advance to Miami Open Quarter-Finals; Sabalenka Secures Semifinal Spot

Djokovic's Commanding Performance at Miami Open

Novak Djokovic delivered a masterclass at the Miami Open, defeating Italy's Lorenzo Musetti 6-2, 6-2 in a rain-delayed match to reach the quarter-finals. Despite a slow start where the Serb was broken in the opening game, Djokovic quickly found his rhythm, winning nine consecutive games to take control of the match.

Match Highlights

• Djokovic's relentless baseline play and precision serving overwhelmed Musetti.
• The 24-time Grand Slam champion showcased his trademark backhand winners, including a stunning down-the-line shot that earned praise from Serena Williams in the stands.
• Musetti, ranked 16th in the world, struggled to maintain momentum after an early lead.

Post-Match Reactions Djokovic acknowledged the challenging start: "It was tough, particularly in the first seven, eight games of the match." He also shared a light-hearted moment about his interaction with Serena Williams, saying, "If Serena says it was fine, then it was amazing by everyone else's standards."

Next Challenge: Sebastian Korda Djokovic will face American Sebastian Korda in the quarter-finals, who secured his spot with a three-set victory over Gael Monfils.

Sabalenka Powers Through to Semifinals

In the women's draw, world number one Aryna Sabalenka advanced to her first Miami Open semifinal with a 6-2, 7-5 win over China's Zheng Qinwen. Sabalenka, who also defeated Zheng in the Australian Open final earlier this year, rallied from a 4-2 deficit in the second set to seal the victory.

Key Stats

• Sabalenka saved 5 of 7 break points and dominated with her aggressive groundstrokes.
• Zheng, despite her efforts, has yet to defeat Sabalenka in their six career meetings.

Road to the Final Sabalenka will next face Italy's Jasmine Paolini, who eased past Magda Linette in straight sets. The Belarusian reflected on her mental toughness: "Even when something didn't work well, I was there and I was fighting for every point."

Other Notable Results

• Francisco Cerundolo defeated Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-2 to advance in the men's draw.
• Serena Williams' presence added star power to the event, cheering on Djokovic from the stands.