 "Miami Open 2025: Novak Djokovic becomes oldest Masters 1000 finalist, on verge of 100th career title")
Novak Djokovic continued to prove that age is just a number by reaching the final of the Miami Open with a victory over Grigor Dimitrov. Djokovic outclassed Dimitrov 6-2, 6-3 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida to improve his record against the Bulgarian to 13-1.
The Serbian superstar thus became the oldest player to reach the final of an Masters 1000 event at 37 years and 10 months of age. Friday’s clash between Djokovic and 33-year-old Dimitrov was also the oldest in Masters 1000 history with a combined age of 70. Ultimately, it was the older of the two players who prevailed in the semi-final clash that lasted 69 minutes.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion, who had won his maiden Olympic gold medal in Paris last year, also finds himself one win away from completing a century of career singles titles. Should he defeat unseeded Czech teenager Jakub Mensik, who is nearly half his age, in the final on Sunday, he will become only the third man in tennis history after Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) to win 100 titles.
The conductor brings the orchestra to life 🎻
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 28, 2025
Relentless @DjokerNole advances into a record-extending 60th Masters 1000 final!@MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/R3kKuooxCn
A victory on Sunday will also take Djokovic’s Miami title count to seven, which will take him past Andre Agassi’s six titles and make him the most successful male player in the history of the tournament.
Djokovic meanwhile, bounced back in style after getting broken on his first service game to register his 10th straight victory over Dimitrov and maintain his record of never losing a Miami Open semi-final. And as was the case in his 6-3, 7-6(7-4) triumph over USA's Sebastian Korda , it was his strong serve game that was at the heart of his victory.
“It was very windy today, very difficult to control the ball, changing direction all the time but I had good serves and held my nerves,” Djokovic said.
“The serve was again the highlight of the match for me. I think it was 84% last game and I thought that would be difficult to beat that but today it was 87% so I don’t know what to say?
“Hopefully I can continue in the same fashion because that definitely make my life easier.”
From one GOAT to another: Messi cheers for Djokovic in Miami
Watching Djokovic inch closer to his 100th title from the stands on Friday was Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi, who currently plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, and his wife Antonela Roccuzzo.
“It was a huge honour to have King Leo in the stands. It was the first time I have played in front of him,” Djokovic added.
Just a pair of 37-year-old MEGA LEGENDS 🤩@DjokerNole talks about what it meant to have @TeamMessi at #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/y9tvXy76PP
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 28, 2025
Mensik, meanwhile, overcame a stiff challenge from American Taylor Fritz in the other semi-final, the 19-year-old beating the world No 4 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) to reach his maiden Masters 1000 final.
He has faced Djokovic only once before, having lost to him in Shanghai.
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