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2025.03.24 12:57 GMT+8

Novak Djokovic surpasses Rafael Nadal in ATP Masters 1000 event wins

Updated 2025.03.24 12:57 GMT+8
Sports Scene
Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates his 6-1, 7-6(1) win over Camilo Ugo Carabelli of Argentina in the men's singles event at the Miami Open in Miami, Florida, March 23, 2025. /VCG

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates his 6-1, 7-6(1) win over Camilo Ugo Carabelli of Argentina in the men's singles event at the Miami Open in Miami, Florida, March 23, 2025. /VCG

Six-times Miami Open champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia moved into the fourth round with a 6-1, 7-6(1) triumph over Argentine lucky loser Camilo Ugo Carabelli on Sunday. The victory moved Djokovic ahead of retired Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal and into the top spot on the all-time list of Masters 1000 match wins.

Having begun the Miami Open with 409 Masters 1000 victories, the Serbian No. 4 seed had been just one behind his longtime rival. With two wins in Florida, he has tied and broken the record.

"I'm honored to have another milestone, another record broken," Djokovic said. "There's always something on the line pretty much every time I play, and of course that motivates me to do well at tournaments."

This milestone came for the 24-time Grand Slam singles winner nearly 20 years after after his first at a Masters 1000 event when defeated Victor Hanescu in Paris in 2005.

Djokovic, who is also seeking a record seventh Miami title, will next face Lorenzo Musetti after the Italian 15th seed beat Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6 6-2 6-3.

On the women's side, former champion Iga Swiatek of Poland earned a 7-6(2), 6-1 win over Belgian 27th seed Elise Mertens becoming the first player to reach the last 16 of a Women's Tennis Association (WTA) 1000 event in 25 consecutive appearances.

Swiatek built a seemingly comfortable 5-2 lead in the first set but Mertens managed to claw back to 5-5 before the Pole ran away with the tiebreaker and breezed through the second frame.

"I'm happy that I got my level up in the tiebreaker to close it in two sets. Also in the second set I felt like I was playing good, big confidence," Swiatek said. "Yeah, overall I'm happy with the performance and how I worked through some issues."

Up next for Swiatek will be Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, who beat Czech 15th seed Karolina Muchova 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.

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