Novak Djokovic turned on the type to take his place within the final 4 of the Miami Open with a formidable 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) win over American Sebastian Korda, turning into the oldest man to achieve a Masters 1000 semi-final.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after defeating Sebastian Korda throughout the Miami Open. (AP)
The 37-year-old Serb made a robust begin in opposition to Korda, breaking early to get a primary set benefit that he by no means let slip however Korda confirmed nice resilience within the second set, taking the competition to a tie-break.
However the fourth seed, in search of his seventh Miami Open title however first since 2016, once more got here up robust, sealing the win with a robust ace.
Djokovic, who will face Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov on Friday, had little question what had been the important thing to his success after successful 84% of his first-serve factors.
“One word, serve. I was serving very well, probably the best serving performance, not just here, but in a long time,” he instructed reporters.
“Eleven aces, when I needed to find the first serve. It makes life easier on the court when you are feeling your serve. I needed it in the second set when I think Korda was feeling his ground strokes much better.”
A victory at Miami could be a landmark one hundredth singles title for the 24-time Grand Slam champion and he stated he is glad to be refinding a prime degree.
“I am obviously playing the best tennis I have played in quite some time. It’s great when I experience tournaments like this and performances like this. It motivates me and encourages me to keep going for more,” he stated.
Czech teenager Jakub Mensik marched into his first Masters semi when he defeated France’s Arthur Fils 7-6 (7/5), 6-1.
Fils had loved one of many largest wins of his profession on Wednesday when he defeated prime seed Alexander Zverev however he struggled to repeat the feat in opposition to the spectacular 19-year-old Mensik.
The towering Czech’s huge serve was an excessive amount of for Fils, who had come by three-set battles with Frances Tiafoe and Zverev and confirmed indicators of tiredness.
“It feels incredible. I think the biggest result so far in my career, so I’m glad I just kept going since the first round,” stated Mensik.
“That’s the key, to keep the focus during the two weeks, because it’s always tough. The job is not done.”
Mensik broke out to an early 4-1 lead however then let Fils again into the competition with the 20-year-old Frenchman forcing a tie-break.
However having survived that comeback from Fils, Mensik was rock strong within the second set as he powered his solution to victory in 75 minutes.
Mensik, ranked 54th on the earth, will subsequent face American third seed Taylor Fritz, who got here by an enthralling battle with Italian Matteo Berrettini with a 7-5, 6-7 (7/9), 7-5.
Berrettini regarded buried within the second set tie-break when he trailed 6-3 however his booming serve and a few unbelievable returns gave him the chance of a deciding set. In whole, Berrettini saved six match factors within the second set.
It was nip and tuck with the pair on serve till Fritz, working exhausting on the baseline, broke to go 6-5 up after which held on for the win.
“Obviously gave myself a lot of chances throughout the match. I wish I could have made it happen in the second set,” stated Fritz.
“I believe I made it extraordinarily powerful for myself. He raised his degree and performed very well within the third, so I needed to work, you recognize, additional exhausting to win the third set and lift my degree, as nicely.
“After not closing it out, not winning those match points, I think I showed one of my biggest strengths in resetting and being able to win the third.”