Novak Djokovic is just one match away from achieving his 100th career ATP title after cruising past Grigor Dimitrov to reach the Miami Open final on Sunday.
The 37-year-old Serbian showcased his class and composure in a 6-2, 6-3 victory, marking his first Miami Open final appearance since 2016.
Djokovic’s opponent in the final will be unseeded Czech teenager Jakub Mensik, who stunned American Taylor Fritz in a hard-fought semi-final with a 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) victory.
Mensik’s journey to the final has been a surprise, particularly given his lack of experience in Masters tournaments.
Reflecting on his performance, Djokovic said, “Ever since winning my 99th title at the Olympic Games in Paris, I’ve been motivated to reach this incredible milestone. I’ve prepared well and haven’t dropped a set this week. Let’s see what happens.”
The match against Dimitrov had its early drama, with the Bulgarian breaking Djokovic’s serve in the opening game.
However, the world number five quickly bounced back, dominating the first set by winning five consecutive games. Dimitrov, last year’s finalist, struggled to maintain consistency, committing 32 unforced errors compared to Djokovic’s mere five.
Meanwhile, Mensik, 19, attributed his semi-final triumph to good fortune, jokingly crediting a handshake from Lionel Messi before the match for bringing him luck.
“Meeting Messi was surreal. I didn’t wash my hand before the game, hoping it would give me luck,” he said.
