Djokovic still believes

Photo by Peter Staples/ATP Tour

By Harvey Fialkov

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Novak Djokovic was a tennis-racket thin 19-year-old kid with breathing issues when he notched the most significant title of his fledgling career at the 2007 Miami Open when it was on Key Biscayne.

He knocked off second-ranked Rafael Nadal in the quarters, 12th-ranked Andy Murray in the semis and 55th-ranked Guillermo Canas, who had stunned No. 1 Roger Federer for the second tournament in a row.

To paraphrase Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca, it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship with Miami and the tennis history books.

The Serb added five more Miami Open titles to his Hall of Fame resume to tie Andre Agassi for the most, not to mention his record 24 Grand Slam singles titles.

Fast forward 18 years, and the 37-year-old Djokovic has returned to the tournament for the first time since 2019, the first year it moved from Key Biscayne to its spectacular home at Hard Rock Stadium. He still believes he could add to his record 40 Masters titles despite coming off three consecutive losses for the first time in seven years.

“I’m not a teenager anymore but I’m still playing and I’m still in love with this sport and that Miami win in 2007 was my first Masters 1000 category when it was the biggest title,’’ said Djokovic during a Thursday afternoon press conference.

“It opened so many doors for me and made me believe in myself more and made me believe that I deserved to be in the mix with the best players in the world, that I’m able to win the biggest title, so it was a huge springboard.

“It meant the world at the time and 18 years later here we are, another Miami. … I missed it. I look forward in getting out in front of the very vibrant crowd. It’s very international, many South Americans who love tennis. I always loved the atmosphere in Miami. I always thought it was very unique. I can’t wait to get the sensation of walking out on center court in front of them.”

Djokovic, who will play his first match Friday afternoon against 24-year-old, 86th-ranked Aussie Rinky Hijikata, said his confidence is still as high as the Piper-Heidsieck gondolas soaring above the courts, because of his vintage performance at the Australian Open.

He roared into the quarterfinals where he ousted his latest Spanish rival, No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, in four grueling sets. However, he was feeling a groin injury during the match and after dropping a first-set tiebreaker to world No. 2 Alexander Zverev – the top seed here – he retired with a muscle tear of his left hamstring.

A month later he lost to Matteo Berrettini in Doha and then Botic van de Zandschulp at Indian Wells, two powerful strikers. The whispers grew louder of his decline. Although Djokovic achieved his Holy Grail with his first Olympic gold medal in 2024, it marked the first year since 2010 that he hasn’t won a single Grand Slam or ATP title.

“I’m in pursuit to find the desired level of tennis,’’ he said. “I haven’t played my best or even close in Indian Wells and Doha. … I haven’t been able to find that quality of tennis that I’ve been looking for. I’m working hard giving it my all on the practice courts and eventually it’s going to come. I know that, hopefully here.

“I played great in Australia. I thought I had a pretty good shot at the title in Melbourne. Unfortunately, it ended for me the way it ended, but nevertheless, it’s still encouraging for me to see that I was able to play the way I was playing Australia. I’m still able to win against the likes of Alcaraz. That’s probably the biggest reason why I still keep pushing myself, motivating myself because I know I still have it in my legs, in my hands, in my arms. I still have that tennis level that can put me in a good position to win the biggest titles in sport.”

Djokovic has drawn 86th-ranked Australian Rinky Hijikata in his first match of the tournament on Friday.