Even after securing 24 GS titles, Novak Djokovic remains a student of the game, constantly seeking feedback, even mid-match! At the 2025 Australian Open, his team, including coach Andy Murray, took full advantage of courtside coaching – a newly introduced feature – while guiding Novak throughout the tournament. Fast forward to the Miami Open, and Djokovic is still receiving plenty of advice from his box. But hey it’s not just his coaches doing the talking all the time. During his R64 match against Rinky Hijikata in Miami, Djokovic’s business manager Mark Madden who was hurling instructions, while during R32, someone else took charge, leaving Serena Williams’ ex-coach, Rennae Stubbs stunned! What exactly caught her off guard?
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Novak Djokovic looked all set for a routine win over Argentine 65th-ranked Ugo Carabelli in R32, breezing through the first set in just 34 minutes and securing an early break in the second. However, Carabelli, a lucky loser, refused to back down, breaking back immediately and pushing the set to a tense tie-break in the second.
But when it mattered most, the Serb maestro showed his class, dominating the tie-break 7-1 to clinch victory. As Djokovic booked his spot in the Miami Open last 16, former WTA doubles top seed Rennae Stubbs couldn’t help but react to one of his on-court gestures!
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Stubbs, known for her active presence on social media, took to her X and wrote, “I’ll never understand watching Novak and him looking up at his players’ box and the person telling him how to hit a forehand is his physio! Like 😂 what??” This raises the question: why would a 24-time GS champion who has conquered everything in tennis still seek advice during a match? That too even from those who are not a part of his coaching team?
I’ll never understand watching Novak and him looking up at his players box and the person telling him how to hit a forehand is his physio! Like 😂 what??
— Rennae Stubbs ♈️ (@rennaestubbs) March 23, 2025
Forget the 1,000+ matches he won, 99 tour titles, and countless records; in Djokovic’s mind, there is always room for improvement. “He’s crazy,” Goran Ivanisevic once admitted, shaking his head in disbelief. In mid-2023, during what was shaping up to be yet another historic season for him, Djokovic was still nitpicking every aspect of his game, never satisfied! Many skilled players talk about wanting to improve, but few actually chase it with the intensity Djokovic does even after reaching the absolute pinnacle of the sport, time and time again.
Well, talking about records, Djokovic achieved another historic milestone yesterday. By advancing to the R16 at the Miami Open, he officially surpassed his longtime Spanish rival, Rafael Nadal. But in terms of what?
Novak Djoković Surpasses Rafael Nadal to Set Record for Most Career Wins at Masters 1000 Events
Novak Djokovic, who is currently thriving with Andy Murray as a coach by his side, has shattered yet another record, adding to his ever-growing legacy. With a commanding 6-1, 7-6(1) victory over Carabelli, he notched his 411th career win at the Masters 1000 event, officially surpassing the Spanish icon Rafael Nadal’s previous record of 410. While Nadal still holds the record for most Masters 1000 QF at 99, Djokovic is closing in fast with 95. Beyond just breaking records, Djokovic stands alone as the only player in history to complete a Career Golden Masters, winning all nine Masters 1000 titles, not just once, but twice.
After surpassing Nadal with his R32 victory, Djokovic shed light on his performance. “Honestly, I wasn’t thinking about it too much. But I’m honored to have another milestone, another record broken. There’s always something on the line every time I play, and of course that motivates me to do well, as well, in the tournament. Overall, I’m pleased to get through,” he said.
Next up for the Serbian at the Miami Open? A 4th-round showdown against 15th seed Lorenzo Musetti. History favors the Serbian legend, as he boasts a 7-1 H2H record against the Italian. Musetti’s lone victory came on the clay courts of Monte Carlo two years ago, but off clay, Djokovic has been flawless: 3-0 in their encounters (2-0 on hard, 1-0 on grass), and he hasn’t dropped a set in those matches.
With Djokovic eyeing yet another Masters 1000 QF, will he cruise past Musetti once again? Or will the Italian pull off a shocker?
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Edited by
Abhishek Rajan