Stream live on TennisChannel.com Friday at 3:00 p.m. ET.🖥️📱 Click here for live coverage on TennisChannel.com (start time approximately 3:00 p.m. ET on March 28)The winner of this match will play either Jakub Mensik or Taylor Fritz in the Miami Open final. Djokovic is looking to win his 100th ATP singles title.👉 Click here for the complete Miami Open bracket.“We played so many times against each other, on all the surfaces,” Djokovic said when he was asked about facing his fellow 30-something Dimitrov on Friday.That’s true. The Serb and the Bulgarian have played 13 times dating back to 2012. But Djokovic, perhaps because he wanted to be polite to his old friend, left out a crucial detail: He has won 12 of those matches. Dimitrov’s only victory came in 2013, on clay in Madrid. The last time they met, in the Bercy final in 2023, Djokovic’s straight-set win left Dimitrov crying tears of frustration.Does Dimitrov have a chance for a happier conclusion in their Miami semifinal? From a purely physical standpoint, the signs don’t point in that direction.A post shared by Novak Djokovic (@djokernole)The last time we saw Dimitrov, he was fighting off dizziness after an ultra-grueling quarterfinal win over Francisco Cerundolo in a third-set tiebreaker. While he has had a day to recover, and Djokovic won his own quarterfinal on Thursday, Novak may still be the fresher player. Dimitrov has survived two marathons, while Djokovic hasn’t dropped a set in Miami so far. His serve has been a big part of that success. In his quarterfinal with Sebastian Korda, he made 83 percent of his first deliveries.“The whole tournament I’ve been serving really well, and I needed it,” Djokovic said.WATCH: Djokovic grades his performance against KordaBut if Dimitrov feels rested and ready, he does have a chance. Last year he beat Carlos Alcaraz and made the final here. And while Djokovic has won eight straight sets, we still don’t know exactly where his level is, or where he is in his partnership with Andy Murray. He didn’t win a match between the Australian Open and Miami, and none of his wins this week have come against a Top 15 opponent. He still seems like someone who is searching for his top gear.That said, a 12-1 head-to-head is tough to get around. Yes, Dimitrov has improved his serve, and he can disrupt his opponents with his one-handed backhand. But whatever he does, it doesn’t work against Djokovic. Winner: Djokovic—Steve Tignor👉 Click here for more news on the Miami Open.
