Djokovic Advances to Miami Open Semifinals After Defeating Korda

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Novak Djokovic continued his pursuit of a record-breaking seventh Miami Open title with a straight-set victory over American Sebastian Korda on Thursday, triumphing 6-3, 7-6 (4) in a match that lasted 1 hour and 24 minutes. The match, originally scheduled for Wednesday, was postponed due to delays caused by the women’s quarterfinals.

At 37 years old, Djokovic became the oldest ATP Masters 1000 semifinalist in history, surpassing Roger Federer’s previous record. His success against Korda puts him one step closer to his 100th professional title. “I’m getting great support. I feel I have a really good chance to go all the way here,” Djokovic said after the match. “I was serving very well, probably the best serving performance, not just here, but in a long time.”

Djokovic displayed exceptional skill and determination in the second set, coming back from a 4-1 deficit to ultimately win in a tiebreaker. His match concluded with a powerful ace, showcasing an impressive 83% first-service rate against the 24th-seeded Korda.

“One word — serve,” Djokovic noted when asked about his second-set performance. “It makes life easier on the court when you are feeling your serve.” Djokovic will face Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in the semifinals, a matchup where he has historically dominated with a 12-1 record.

In the women’s division, Jessica Pegula overcame the remarkable run of teenage wild card Alexandra Eala, winning 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 6-3. The match, which lasted 2 hours and 24 minutes, ended well past midnight. Pegula’s familiarity with pressure-filled moments helped her recover after initially trailing in the match.

Eala, who had previously defeated three Grand Slam champions to reach the semifinal, showcased her potential with a fighting spirit that captured the audience’s attention. After the match, Pegula expressed her excitement about advancing, stating, “It’s nice to know I can win these big matches in really clutch, pressure moments and come out on top.”

Aryna Sabalenka also advanced to the final with a decisive 6-2, 6-2 victory over sixth seed Jasmine Paolini. Sabalenka’s performance marked her first Miami Open final and came just hours after Pegula’s victory, setting the stage for an exciting championship match.

“I’m super happy with the level I played today. Of course, super happy to be in my first Miami Open final,” Sabalenka said. “I felt like everything was just going smoothly my way.”

The Miami Open women’s final is set to feature Pegula against Sabalenka, promising a thrilling showdown on Saturday.