Miami: Djokovic snaps three-match losing streak to tie Nadal for all-time ATP Masters victories

Six-time champion Novak Djokovic won his first match in Miami since 2019, defeating Australian Rinky Hijikata 6-0, 7-6 (1) at the Hard Rock Stadium on Friday.

The win marked the Serb’s first victory on tour since the Australian Open in January, where he was forced to pull out after one set against Alexander Zverev. Following that, Djokovic was beaten in his opening matches in Doha and Indian Wells coming into this week.

The win was Djokovic’s 410th at the ATP Masters level – tying the all-time record with Rafael Nadal.

The No 4 seed advanced to the third round of the Miami Masters, where he will face Argentinian lucky loser Camilo Ugo Carabelli.

“It was a perfect start to the tournament” – Djokovic

“It was a perfect start to the tournament. Six years, way too long. I was excited to get out on the court and hopefully perform better than I have in the last couple of tournaments,” Djokovic told the media after his win.

“I had two weeks since the last match that I played in Indian Wells, so I had plenty of time to work on my game. I think that has positively reflected on my game today, particularly for set and a half, almost flawless tennis.”

The Serb was happy to get a win under his belt after losing his opening matches in his last two events.

“I wanted to make a statement to myself and to others, as well, that I’m still able to play on a high level I lost two tournaments in my first rounds, so I really was eager to get the win in the first match in Miami Open. A perfect tennis almost for set and a half. I think he had stepped it up. In the second set, deservedly taken to a tiebreak, and then I played a great tiebreak. All in all, there is always something you can work on, but for me it’s just about maintaining this level of tennis and, you know, trying to be even better if I can as the tournament progresses,” the Serb added.

I’m very pleased with the way I felt and played on the court.In the previous round of the tournament, Hijikata, ranked No 86, edged out Serb Hamad Medjedovic (7-5, 3-6, 7-5).

Miami Masters 1000, other second-round results (Hard Rock Stadium, hard, USD 9.193.540, most recent results first):

• Gael Monfils beat Jiri Lehecka (26): 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (8)
• Stefanos Tsitsipas (9) beat Chun-Hsin Tseng (Q): 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
• Jaume Munar beat Daniil Medvedev (7): 6-2, 6-3
• Camilo Ugo Carabelli beat Alex Michelsen (32): 6-7 (3), 7-5, 6-3
• Karen Khachanov (22) beat Nick Kyrgios: 7-6 (3), 6-0
• Grigor Dimitrov (14) beat Federico Cina (WC): 6-1, 6-4
• Casper Ruud (5) beat Miomir Kecmanovic: 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
• Felix Auger-Aliassime (18) beat Tristan Schoolkate (Q): 6-4, 6-4
• Lorenzo Musetti (15) beat Quentin Halys: 3-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5
• Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs. Frances Tiafoe
• Alex De Minaur vs. Yunchaokete Bu
• Arthur Fils vs. Gabriel Diallo
• Zizou Bergs vs. Andrey Rublev
• Matteo Berrettini vs. Hugo Gaston
• Joao Fonseca vs. Ugo Humbert
• Jakub Mensik vs. Jack Draper
• Alexei Popyrin vs. Roman Safiullin
• Holger Rune vs. Reilly Opelka
• Thiago Agustin Tirante vs. Denis Shapovalov
• Taylor Fritz vs. Lorenzo Sonego
• Matteo Arnaldi vs. Tomas Machac
• Jordan Thompson vs. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
• Alexander Zverev vs. Jacob Fearnley
• Chak Lam Coleman Wong vs. Ben Shelton
• Adam Walton vs. Luciano Darderi
• David Goffin vs. Carlos Alcaraz
• Alexander Bublik vs. Tommy Paul
• Brandon Nakashima vs. Roberto Carballes Baena
• Sebastian Korda vs. Eliot Spizzirri
• Francisco Cerundolo vs. Alexandre Muller
• Corentin Moutet vs. Alejandro Tabilo

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