Novak Djokovic reached the Miami Open semi-finals but he was made to work hard for his victory.

To reach the last four, the 37-year-old needed to defeat home favourite and World number 25 Sebastian Korda.

This was their first meeting since the 2023 Adelaide International final, and it was a very competitive and entertaining contest.

Novak Djokovic has been searching for his best form all season, and against Korda, he certainly found it on serve.

Novak Djokovic outlines the two mistakes he made against Sebastian Korda at the Miami Open

Djokovic produced quite possibly his best serving performance of the tournament against Korda.

The Serbian made 83% of his first serves and he won 84 per cent of his first-serve points in the one-hour and 22-minute Miami Open quarter-final.

Despite his impressive serving numbers, Korda served for the second set at 5-3, before the former World number one made a comeback and forced a second set tiebreak to win 6-3, 7-6(4).

Post-match Djokovic was pleased with his overall level, but admitted he was passive early on and allowed Korda to dictate play in the second set. “I am feeling very relieved that I won in straight sets, to be quite frank,” Djokovic said.

“The highlight of the match for sure was my first serve. 11 aces and I think over 80% first serves in. I have been serving really well the entire tournament and today definitely the best serving performance.

“I was quite nervous to be honest because you never know what comes from Korda. He is so aggressive, so talented. He can play any shot in the game and he takes away the time from the opponent.

“I was kind of on my back foot, so to speak, and trying to – in some moments, especially the beginning of the second set, too passively wait for his error rather than to dictate from the back of the court.

“I managed to rebreak and got myself in position to win a tiebreak. When I needed a first serve I got it. A very tense match but a great performance.”

Novak Djokovic becomes oldest Masters 1000 semi-finalist

Djokovic stayed undefeated against Korda and in the process reached his first Masters 1000 semi-final in Miami since 2016.

At 37 years and 10 months Djokovic became the oldest player to reach the last four at this level since Roger Federer.

The Swiss Maestro was 37 years and seven months when he reached the Indian Wells and Miami Open semi-finals in 2019.

Djokovic will face Grigor Dimitrov for a chance to reach the final and he will aim to produce another fine serving performance.

“I was a bit tense to be honest from the back of the court,” he added. “At the beginning I was still not going through my shots.

“I was fortunate to really hit my spots with the serve very well, which allowed me to have an easier first shot.”