Remember when Novak Djokovic crossed paths with Lionel Messi in Miami back in 2023 and shared his admiration in an ESPN interview, saying, “Messi is a phenomenon. He’s a huge champion, I have respect for him.”? That moment perfectly summed up what true sportsmanship looks like: two legends who’ve conquered everything their respective sports have an enormous amount of mutual respect. And as fate would have it, the brightest stars in sports aligned once again in Miami this year. But this time, it wasn’t just Leo who grabbed Novak’s attention: it was Messi’s young son who stole the spotlight, offering Djokovic a cheeky piece of advice that might just inspire him to clinch his 100th career title right in Messi’s new hometown. Curious about what Jr. Messi told the tennis icon?
Djokovic turned on the heat in style under the Miami lights, bouncing back effortlessly after an early break against Grigor Dimitrov. He broke back immediately and never looked back, seizing a 4-2 lead after a misfired forehand from the Bulgarian. Novak eventually sealed the first set as Dimitrov’s volley flew long.
The veteran then raced ahead 3-0 in the second, hammering five aces and missing just six first serves. The former World No. 1 wrapped up the win with an unreturnable serve, extending his dominance to 13-1 over Dimitrov. Post-match, Djokovic revealed a cheeky performance rating he got from the Messi family.
Speaking in the post-match press conference, the Serbian said, “It’s huge honor. I mean, he’s such a great athlete, not just a football player. His impact on the world of sport in the last 20 years has been immense. To have him watch me live obviously brings me great, great joy and excitement, and also a bit of pressure, to be honest (smiling). I was rated by one of his sons today as 8 out of 10, which is pretty good. He with a serious face told me I have to make 10 out of 10 next match. So I have quite a bit of pressure from Messi’s son there. Yeah, we joked around.”
Lionel Messi wasn’t just spotted for Djokovic’s match against Dimitrov; he was also there for Jakub Mensik’s match against Taylor Fritz, and Mensik even revealed he was inspired by the presence of the Inter Miami captain. Djokovic later revealed he had a chance to catch up with the World Cup winner as well, after he sealed the deal against Dimitrov.
Adding to the star-studded evening, Djokovic’s longtime friend and former rival, Argentina’s Juan Martín del Potro, joined the duo after the match. He even shared a fanboy moment on IG, captioning a picture of the trio with a playful nod: “Modo fan —> ,”
Djokovic now stands on the brink of tennis history, chasing an elusive milestone that only 2 legends: Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103), have ever reached. The Olympic Gold medalist, who clinched his 99th career title last July, is now just one win away from joining the prestigious 100-title club. That long-awaited moment could arrive this Sunday at the Miami Open, where the 37-year-old legend has blazed his way into his first final of the season and a record-shattering 60th ATP Masters 1000 title match. Post-match, Djokovic reflected on his dominant display against Dimitrov with trademark humility and hunger.
“It’s not easy to find control”—Novak shared his views after the win against Dimitrov
Despite an early spark and breezy conditions favoring Dimitrov, the Bulgarian couldn’t hold off the relentless Djokovic in what became the oldest ATP Masters 1000 SF in history, with the 37-year-old Djokovic locking horns with 33-year-old Dimitrov.
Dimitrov broke the Serb in the opening game but quickly saw the momentum slip away as Djokovic shifted his gears, cruising to a dominant 6-2 first set. The second set saw further distraction when a fan was ejected for heckling Dimitrov, but the Bulgarian couldn’t recover from the first set demolition. Djokovic stayed laser-focused, dismantling Dimitrov’s serve and sealing the match 6-2, 6-3.
“There were a couple of tight games in the last part of the match. It was 4-2, 30-30 and he missed a couple of forehands, and then I found some really good serves with new balls in the last game. These were tricky conditions. Very swirly. The wind was not consistent, changing a lot. It’s not easy to find control of the ball. I tried to make him play in these conditions because he’s a clean hitter. I knew he’d struggle if I made him play an extra shot. He struggled with the first serve more than I did,” Novak said, reflecting calmly on his clinical performance.
Djokovic has stormed into a tour-level final for a record 20th straight season, matching Roger Federer’s record run. Now, at nearly 38, the Serbian eyes history: a record 7th Miami crown and an elusive 100th career title. But can he silence 19-year-old sensation Jakub Mensik next?
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