Djokovic beats Musetti to reach Miami quarter-finals

Novak Djokovic advanced to the Miami Open quarter-finals by defeating Lorenzo Musetti 6-2, 6-2.

Due to the rain, world number five Djokovic, who has won six Miami titles, started slowly and was broken in the opening game when Musetti of Italy gave up a 2-0 lead.

However, 37-year-old Serbian Djokovic completely dominated the match at that time.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion won nine straight games, winning the first set 6-2 and moving up to 3-0 in the second.

Fourth seed Djokovic praised the difficulty, particularly in the first seven or eight games of the match.

Serena Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion and former world no 1 in women’s tennis, was a witness as she watched Djokovic from the stands.

He scored on match point with a backhand winner to take the lead to 5-2 in the second set, and Musetti double-faulted to seal the victory.

Actually, I pointed to her and inquired whether it was okay after that down-the-line passing shot, “,” said Djokovic.

Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s number one, defeated Zheng Qinwen of China 6-2 7-5 to reach the semi-finals in Miami for the first time.

In the second set, Sabalenka came back from a 4-2 deficit to win the Australian Open final in January.

After beating Magda Linette 6-3, 6-2, the 26-year-old Belarusian will face Jasmine Paolini in the final four, the Italian sixth seed.

Paolini defeated Linette in the quarter-finals to save seven of the eight break points she faced.

Sabalenka said she was “really proud” of the way she handled her emotions after extending her lead-to-head record to 6-0 against Zheng.