Miami Open: Djokovic Breaks Nadal’s Record

Novak Djokovic earned a record 411^th ATP Masters 1000-match win when he defeated Camilo Ugo Carabelli of Argentina at the Miami Open, breaking a tie with Spaniard Rafael Nadal.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 third-round victory over Camilo Ugo Carabelli.

The Serbian entered the tournament with 409 Masters 1000 victories, just one behind his longtime rival. He tied Nadal for most Masters 1000 wins after his opening round win over Rinki Hijikata.

Djokovic, who owns the most titles (40), finals (59) and semi-finals (78) at Masters 1,000 level has now moved past Nadal for the most match wins (410) since the series’ introduction in 1990, when he recorded his 411th Masters 1000 match win on Sunday.

“I am honoured to have another milestone, another record broken. There is always something on the line pretty much every time I play, and of course that motivates me to do well at tournaments,” said Djokovic.

Djokovic’s 411^th victory comes almost 20 years after his first at a Masters 1000 event. The former No. 1 clinched his maiden victory at that level in Paris in 2005, when he defeated Victor Hanescu.

The 37-year-old has since claimed a record 40 Masters 1000 titles, with his first coming in Miami in 2007. In 2018 he became the first and only player to win all nine Masters 1000 events. By 2020, he had won each tournament at least twice. He is now 411-91 at Masters 1000 events, according to the ATP Win/Loss Index.

The 37-year-old Serb, who’s vying for his seventh Miami Open title that would surpass Andre Agassi for the most, will take on another young star in 23-year-old Italian Lorenzo Musetti, the 15^th seed, in the round of 16.

Djokovic is also chasing his first Masters 1000 title since 2023 when he triumphed in Paris.

—IANS