Djokovic Dominates Musetti to Reach Miami Open Quarter-Finals

Djokovic's Impressive Victory

In a commanding display, Novak Djokovic triumphed over Lorenzo Musetti with a score of 6-2, 6-2, winning 12 of the last 14 games in their match at the Miami Open. This performance marked Djokovic's strongest showing since his success at the Australian Open.

The match, which faced delays due to rain, saw a pivotal moment when Djokovic expressed his frustration to the chair umpire regarding a serve clock warning during the first set. This seemed to ignite his competitive spirit.

Following this incident, Djokovic broke Musetti's serve to take a 4-2 lead and maintained his dominance in front of an enthusiastic crowd that included tennis legends like Serena Williams and Juan Martin del Potro.

Djokovic expressed his excitement, stating, "I was star-struck. It was incredible to see DelPo, a long-time friend and rival, supporting me from the stands. I truly appreciate him being here, and seeing Serena was a delightful surprise." He showcased his skill with a stunning backhand winner, extending his lead to 5-2 in the second set, ultimately sealing the match when Musetti double-faulted on match point.

Paolini Makes History

On the women's side, Italian sixth seed Jasmine Paolini made headlines by becoming the first Italian woman to reach the semi-finals of the Miami Open. She achieved this by saving seven out of eight break points against Magda Linette.

Paolini's next challenge will be against world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who also advanced to the semi-finals after defeating China's Zheng Qinwen with a score of 6-2, 7-5, in a rematch of their Australian Open final earlier this year.

Sabalenka reflected on her match, saying, "Battling against her is always tough. I had to put in a lot of effort, especially in the second set. I'm proud of how I managed my emotions throughout the match. Even when things didn't go as planned, I fought for every point."