Grigor Dimitrov gives eight-word tribute to Novak Djokovic ahead of Miami Open final

Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov’s eight-word tribute to Novak Djokovic shows he remains the greatest player in the history of men’s tennis in the singles category. The 37-year-old, who has lifted as many as 24 Grand Slam titles, is currently taking part in the ATP 1000 event in Miami where he cemented his place in the final.

Djokovic defeated Dimitrov in the semifinal in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-3. With that, he became the oldest player in men’s tennis in the singles category in the Open era to cement a spot in the final of an ATP 1000 event. After that match, Dimitrov was full of praise for his opponent. “Wears confidence like a stain on your shirt,” he said.

Djokovic, in response, was ‘grateful’ to receive such comments from someone whom he considers ‘a friend’. “Very grateful to hear something like that coming from someone that I really respect as a player but even more than a player, as a person,” he said. “Someone that I consider a friend, a guy I really love spending time with off the court as well.”

In the final, Djokovic will face the Czech Republic’s young tennis sensation Jakub Mensik, who cemented his spot in the final of the competition after stunning the 2024 US Open runner-up Taylor Fritz in the semifinal with a score of 7-6, 4-6, 7-6. It will be only the second meeting between the two players in professional tennis. In the only previous meeting, which was in the quarterfinal of the Shanghai Masters last year, it was Djokovic who came out on top with a score of 6-7, 6-1, 6-4.

Talking after the match, Mensik stated that it feels ‘incredible’ to cement a spot in the final of the mega-event and facing a legendary player like Djokovic. “It feels incredible,” he said. “It was a dream to play against him in Shanghai. For now it’s a bit different. I am a better player now and I’m going to enjoy and it’s going to be really exciting. Let’s see what’s going to happen Sunday.”