Novak Djokovic booked his spot in the Miami Open final with a dominant 6-2, 6-3 victory over Grigor Dimitrov in a match that carried a special twist. Soccer icon Lionel Messi attended with his wife and children, showing their admiration for the Serbian star, widely regarded as one of the greatest in tennis history.
During the post-match press conference, Djokovic shared a lighthearted moment about an unexpected critique he received from Messi’s son, who had high expectations for the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
“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,” Djokovic said with a laugh.
The Serbian also reflected on meeting Messi and his family, describing the experience as deeply meaningful. “We joked around. It was nice to meet with his whole family,” Djokovic noted. “It was a very touching moment for me because it’s one thing that he comes, but then bringing his whole family, his kids, his wife“.
Lionel Messi and his family attend the match between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria during the semifinals of the Miami Open. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
“As a young father myself, I know what that means,” he continued. “It’s different when you bring the whole family. I was very touched by that and his willingness to spend some time after. I value that time with him”.
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Djokovic’s admiration for Messi
Before addressing the media, Djokovic expressed his gratitude for playing in front of Messi, calling it an unforgettable experience. “I’m very happy. Obviously, it’s an honor and a pleasure to play in front of him, I think for the first time in my life,” he said. “I’m very grateful that he was here with his son, his family”.
“I admire his career, as does the rest of the world, and to see him still performing at this level. We’re the same age. We were both born in ‘87. It’s really nice to see him here,” Djokovic shared.
Djokovic on chasing his 100th ATP title
As Djokovic stands on the cusp of a historic milestone, the Serbian superstar reflected on the journey to potentially clinch his 100th ATP title. “Ever since I won my 99th, which was the Olympic Games in Paris, I’ve been playing with the prospect of winning the special hundred titles,” Djokovic explained after the semifinal.
“I played finals of Shanghai. I was close there. Semifinals of Australia,” he continued. “Then I’ve been trying to find that necessary and much-needed level of tennis that will put me in a position to fight for a trophy, a big trophy”.
