Novak Djokovic was joined by Taylor Fritz and Jakub Mensik in the men’s singles semifinals of the Miami Open 2025 on Thursday, March 27. Aryna Sabalenka set up the women’s singles final with an easy win over Jasmine Paolini.
In what turned out to be the match of the day, Fritz missed out on six match-points before finally clinching his Miami Open semifinals berth after spending two hours and 44 minutes on court.
Fritz defeated Matteo Berrettini 7-5, 6-7 (7), 7-5 after squandering match-points when he led 6-3 in the second set tie-breaker. This was after he also had a couple of other match-points on Berrettini’s serve at 6-5.
Having gone into the encounter with a 4-0 head to head record against Berrettini, Fritz was pushed hard in all three sets and later acknowledged that his opponent raised the level of his game at crucial times.
Fritz will take on Jakub Mensik in the semifinals after the Czech defeated Arthur Fils 7-6 (5), 6-1 in a shock result. This will be his maiden appearance in the semifinals of a Masters event.
Meanwhile Djokovic also advanced to the semifinal of an even he has won six times in the past with a reasonably comfortable win over Sebastian Korda. Djokovic won 6-3, 7-6 (4) to become the oldest semifinalist at an ATP Masters event, having done it two months shy of his 38th birthday.
Korda had a chance in the second set when he served for it at 5-3 but once Djokovic had broken back and taken it to the tie-breaker there was going to be only one winner.
Over in the women’s section of the draw, the world number one Aryna Sabalenka did not waste too much time in getting past Jasmine Paolini. She booked her spot in the final with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Jasmine Paolini.
Paolini, who had become the first Italian player to make it to the semifinals in Miami, was found severely wanting against Sabalenka’s serving. The Belarusian player smashed six aces and won 77% of her first serve points as she saved all four of the break-points she faced in the encounter.
Sabalenka will now take on the winner of the match between Jessica Pegula and Alexandra Eala.
Miami Open Thursday, March 27 Results:
- Djokovic d Korda 6-3, 7-6 (4)
- Fritz d Berrettini 7-5, 6-7 (7), 7-5
- Mensik d Fils 7-6 (5), 6-1
- Sabalenka d Paolini 6-2, 6-2
- Pegula v Eala TBA
