Walking wounded, Sebastian Korda faces six-time Miami Open champion Novak Djokovic in Wednesday's quarter-final, seeking an upset against the 99-time ATP Tour champion.
The American player overcame a medical timeout and inclement weather to avenge his recent defeat at Indian Wells against Gael Monfils, besting the veteran in three to set up a second meeting with the sport's most outstanding player.
Match preview
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Tuesday at Miami Gardens was stop-start due to inclement weather, but Korda was undaunted in defeating Monfils in three sets over two hours to advance to the Masters quarter-final.
The American's reward for a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 success over the Frenchman is a second match-up on the tour against Djokovic, whom he lost to in Adelaide two years ago.
While the home player will hope local comforts carry him through to the semis, it will be interesting to see if the two-time ATP champion's body holds up against the Serbian superstar.
Having just returned to health after missing the latter months of 2024 due to an elbow injury and being absent after the Australian Open due to a separate issue, Korda received treatment before Tuesday's rain delay and subsequently withdrew from his doubles match.
The Florida-born player's compromised health puts him at a physical disadvantage, magnifying the 24-year-old's uphill battle to reach his maiden semi-final at the ATP 1000 event, four years after his first quarter-final in 2021, when he fell in two tight sets to Andrey Rublev.
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Djokovic, seeking a seventh crown in Miami, will be in no mood to grant favours to the American player as he continues his bid for a 100th tour-level title in Florida.
The Serbian star secured his place in the quarters with an outstanding showing against marathon man Lorenzo Musetti despite losing the first two games of the opening set.
That false start and a time violation sparked the 99-time titlist into action, underlined by the 37-year-old reeling off six straight games to take the first set 6-2 and the opening three of the second to open a healthy lead and keep the Italian at bay in the eventual 6-2, 6-2 triumph.
Back into the last eight for the first time since winning the Miami Masters in 2016, Djokovic, returning to the Florida-based event for the first time since 2019, has avoided the early exits that befell him in 2018 (second round) and 2019 (round four).
Knowing he has progressed to the title match every time he has made the last eight, the fourth seed aims to extend a seven-match winning streak in previous quarter-finals in Miami to advance to the event's semi, facing Francisco Cerundolo or Grigor Dimitrov.
Tournament so far
Sebastian Korda:
First round: Bye
Second round: vs. Eliot Spizzirri 6-4 6-2
Third round: vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6[4] 6-3
Round of 16: vs. Gael Monfils 6-4 2-6 6-4
Novak Djokovic:
First round: Bye
Second round: vs. Rinky Hijikata 6-0 7-6[1]
Third round: vs. Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-1 7-6[1]
Round of 16: vs. Lorenzo Musetti 6-2 6-2
Head To Head
Adelaide (2023) - Final: Djokovic 6-7(8) 7-6(3) 6-4
Both men will face off for the first time since the Adelaide title match in 2023 when Korda held match point only to be denied by Djokovic, who ultimately claimed the title in three tight sets.
The American has defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas en route to a second career quarter-final in Florida, and he bids for another top-10 victory to notch his 10th against such opponents.
The 24th seed enters Wednesday's match against Djokovic on a four-match winning streak against the elite, clinching wins over Dimitrov on the lawns of Queen's, Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev in Canada and Tsitsipas in Miami, highlighting his competence against the best players on the men's tour.
However, facing Djokovic with compromised health puts that sequence of wins under threat.
We say: Djokovic to win in two sets
After dispatching Musetti quickly, it is difficult to look beyond a semi-final berth for Djokovic, facing an opponent in Korda who is not entirely healthy, as evident from the American's win over Monfils on Tuesday.
Although he was taken to a decider in Adelaide two years ago, the Serbian star is expected to win in straight sets over the Florida-born 24th seed.
