‘Star-struck’ Novak Djokovic reveals what he asked Serena Williams after cruising into Miami quarterfinals

Novak Djokovic has made huge strides toward his 100th ATP title of his career as he progressed to the Miami Open quarterfinals.

‘Star-struck’ Novak Djokovic reveals what he asked Serena Williams after cruising into Miami quarterfinals

Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams (Image via X/Tennis Letter page)

Novak Djokovic breezed into the Miami Open quarterfinals on Tuesday (March 25). He was up against Lorenzo Musetti at Hard Rock Stadium, where another great was enjoying his match from the stands.

It was 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams, of course. Not just her, Juan Martin del Potro too attended the match and sat behind Djokovic’s coach Andy Murray. Playing in front of these three former players left the 24-time Grand Slam champion star-struck.

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I was stars-truck! It was amazing to see first Delpo, obviously a long-time friend and a rival, so happy to have him around and get his support from the box. It was amazing, it was [the] first time to have Delpo in the box, so I want to thank him really for coming. And Serena, that was a surprise. I didn’t know.

Novak Djokovic said during his on-court interview

Williams is the most successful player in the history of the Miami Open (male or female), having won eight titles. The Floridian was asked by six-time Miami Open champion Djokovic about his stunning backhand winner which he hit at 5-2 in the second set, after which he secured a spot in the quarterfinal.

Actually, when I had that down-the-line passing shot, I pointed to her and asked her whether it was okay. She kind of said, ‘Yeah, it was fine’. If Serena says it was fine, then it was amazing by everyone else’s standards. So yeah, great to have them.

Novak Djokovic added

The match, which lasted for an hour and 23 minutes, saw Djokovic complain to the chair umpire about a time violation during the fifth game of the first set. The confrontation with the umpire riled him up, and he never looked back, quickly finishing the match with a 6-2, 6-2 scoreline.

Goran Ivanisevic calls Novak Djokovic the greatest of all time

Goran Ivanisevic parted ways with Novak Djokovic last year in March, marking an end to a nearly six-year partnership. Ivanisevic recently appeared on a television show in Croatia during which he gave his stance on the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) debate.

Novak Djokovic (3)
Novak Djokovic (Image via We Are Tennis)

[Roger] Federer plays the most beautiful tennis, even when he plays badly, it’s a pleasure to watch him. Then, Rafa [Nadal] is a fighter, to the point of exhaustion, he’s such a fighter that he gives his life on the court. He won 14 titles at Roland Garros, which will never happen in the history of a sport. Djokovic is the most complete of the three and the best of all time.

Goran Ivanisevic said

Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal have collectively bagged 66 Grand Slam titles. Federer and Nadal have both called time on their careers at the 2022 Laver Cup and the 2024 Davis Cup, respectively. Djokovic, on the other hand, is still on his hunt for a record 25th Grand Slam title.

Ivanisevic, following his split with Nole, joined Elena Rybakina‘s team. But the partnership did not last long as the Croatian coach quit her team after the Kazakh ace’s Australian Open defeat due to the controversy involving banned coach Stefano Vukov.

Novak Djokovic to face Sebastian Korda next

Djokovic is three wins away from his 41st Masters 1000 title. In the quarterfinals, the 37-year-old, who last won a tour-level singles title at the 2023 ATP Finals, will lock horns with home favorite Sebastian Korda who knocked out Gael Monfils in three sets in the previous round.

Novak Djokovic (4)
Novak Djokovic (Image via X/We Are Tennis)

Korda and Djokovic have faced each other just once and the result of it ended in the Serb’s favor. They were pitted against each other in the 2023 Adelaide International final.

Both the players are on a hunt for their first title of the season. Korda came close to winning the Adelaide International but lost the final to Felix Auger-Aliassime.