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Djokovic Advances Toward Seventh Miami Open Title
Novak Djokovic edged closer to achieving a record-setting seventh Miami Open title after defeating Sebastian Korda in straight sets, successfully advancing to the semi-finals in Florida. The highly anticipated quarter-final match, originally scheduled for Wednesday, was pushed to Thursday due to scheduling delays. In a commanding performance, Djokovic triumphed over Korda with scores of 6-3, 7-6 in just 82 minutes.
Djokovic showcased remarkable resilience, concluding the first set in dominant fashion by clinching the last 12 points. Despite finding himself in a challenging position at 5-2 in the second set, he rallied to secure a win in a tense tie-break, setting the stage for a semi-final clash against Grigor Dimitrov.
With this victory, the 24-time Grand Slam champion has become the oldest ATP Masters 1000 semi-finalist in the event’s history, surpassing the record previously held by Roger Federer. Djokovic is now poised to capture the Miami Open title for the first time since 2016.
“I am very relieved I won in straight sets,” Djokovic shared with Sky Sports. “I was quite nervous to be honest, because you never know what comes from Korda. He’s so aggressive, so talented and can play any shot. I was on the back foot and it was a tense match.”
Meanwhile, Czech teenager Jakub Mensik continued his impressive run, securing a victory over Arthur Fils with a score of 7-6, 6-1. This win sets up a semi-final for Mensik against either Taylor Fritz or Matteo Berrettini.
“I think the biggest result so far in my career, so I’m glad I just kept going since the first round,” Mensik remarked. “That’s the key, to keep the focus during the two weeks, because it’s always tough… The job is not done.”
Sabalenka Dominates to Reach Women’s Final
In the women’s draw, world number one Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the final with an impressive 6-2, 6-2 victory over sixth seed Jasmine Paolini. The match was marked by Sabalenka’s commanding performance, which lasted just over an hour, during which she maintained control and broke Paolini’s serve on four occasions.
This match signifies Sabalenka’s entry into her fourth WTA Tour final of the season, where she will compete for the Miami Open title against either the fourth seed Jessica Pegula or world number 140 Alexandra Eala. Her consistent play places her as a strong contender for her first Miami Open title.
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Source
www.skysports.com