It’s semifinal Friday at the Miami Open, where the schedule is headlined by a showdown between Novak Djokovic and Grigor Dimitrov. Taylor Fritz and Jakub Mensik are also aiming for a place in the title match.
Here are my picks for the two matchups.
(4) Novak Djokovic vs. (14) Grigor Dimitrov
Djokovic and Dimitrov will be facing each other for the 14th time in their careers. Twelve of their previous 12 encounters have gone Djokovic’s way, with the only exception being a 7-6(6), 6-7(8), 6-3 win for Dimitrov at the 2013 Madrid Masters. The Serb has won all eight of their hard-court meetings, including five indoors.
More of the same should be in store for Friday. Dimitrov is coming off a nearly three-hour thriller against Francisco Cerundolo, whereas Djokovic has coasted so far in the 305 with straight-set defeats of Rinky Hijikata, Camilo Ugo Carabelli, Lorenzo Musetti, and Sebastian Korda. The 37-year-old should be on his way to the final and perhaps en route to a seventh Miami title.
Pick: Djokovic in 2
Jakub Mensik vs. (3) Taylor Fritz
Fritz is trying to complete the career Sunshine Double after winning the 2022 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. The fourth-ranked American is though to his first semifinal at the Miami Masters following wins over Lorenzo Sonego, Denis Shapovalov, Adam Walton, and Matteo Berrettini. The quarterfinal against Berrettini was a three-set slugfest on Thursday night, but the others were straight-set affairs.
Up next for Fritz is a second encounter with Mensik, whom he destroyed 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 at the 2023 U.S. Open. The 19-year-old Czech had advanced to his first Masters 1000 semifinal by beating Roberto Bautista Agut, IW champ Jack Draper, Roman Safiullin, and Arthur Fils (he also got a walkover from Tomas Machac). Mensik is a much different player than he was at the 2023 U.S. Open, but this one should still go in Fritz’s favor.
Pick: Fritz in 2
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on Twitter at @Dimonator.