Novak Djokovic lights up Miami Open as Serena Williams, Juan Martin del Potro watch on

The Serbian went on a nine-game run and booked a quarterfinal spot with a 6-2, 6-2 rout of Lorenzo Musetti.

Six-time Miami Open champion Novak Djokovic soared into the quarterfinals on Tuesday evening, with a fellow GOAT watching in the stands and a beloved champion sitting in his box.

Facing Lorenzo Musetti on a Tuesday plagued by rain, Djokovic picked apart the 15th seed, 6-2, 6-2, to secure his eighth last eight appearance in the Magic City and first since the event relocated to Hard Rock Stadium. Serena Williams was among those in attendance, with Juan Martin del Potro enjoying the atmosphere directly behind the Serbian’s current coach and fellow major winner Andy Murray.

“It was great to have Serena courtside, and Del Potro in my box, and Andy as my coach,” Djokovic told journalists afterward with a grin. “It was a bit star-studded, to be honest!

“When I saw Serena in particular, I was like, oof! I’m very happy, but I’m also nervous. I gotta come up with my best performance.”

When I saw Serena in particular, I was like, oof! I’m very happy, but I’m also nervous. I gotta come up with my best performance.

Down 0-2 to start, Djokovic grabbed full control by reeling off the next nine games—in part by turning a time violation issued by chair umpire Fergus Murphy during the fifth game into significantly increased speeds on his first serve and forehand.

As clean as a backhand crosscourt pass one can hit secured a 4-2 advantage and the 37-year-old poured it on by building a strong rhythm on his serve.

Musetti lifted his arms in the second set after saving a pair of break points to stop the bleeding at 0-3. Up 4-1, 0-15, Djokovic put his iconic jets on full display via north and south movement and after Musetti netted the open put-away, looked at Williams with a point to his knees.

Two games later, Djokovic locked up the victory when Musetti double-faulted. He paid tribute to del Potro by imitating his takeback forehand in celebration.

Djokovic is making his first Miami appearance since 2019, the first year the event was held at its current venue.

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“I’m very happy with my performance, my attitude on the court,” Djokovic said. “I always try to be aggressive, didn’t want to really give him a chance to come back. He’s a very dangerous player if you give him time. A very talented player on all surfaces, he’s proven that over the last few years…

“I had a slightly slower start in the first two or three games. (I needed to) get the engines going, but once I won that close fourth game to break back, I never looked back. I won from 0-2 down, I think, nine games in a row.”

A round earlier, Djokovic set the record for most wins at the 1000 level when he surpassed Rafael Nadal with 411. The Belgrade native is bidding to lift his 100th career trophy and can move within two wins of achieving that milestone if he advances past Sebastian Korda.

The No. 24 seed fended off Gael Monfils, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, to avenge his Indian Wells defeat to the Frenchman. In January 2023, Korda held a championship point on Djokovic before the legend battled back to clinch the Adelaide crown.