The last time we saw Dimitrov, he was fighting off dizziness after an ultra-grueling quarterfinal win over Francisco Cerundolo in a third-set tiebreaker. While he has had a day to recover, and Djokovic won his own quarterfinal on Thursday, Novak may still be the fresher player. Dimitrov has survived two marathons, while Djokovic hasn’t dropped a set in Miami so far. His serve has been a big part of that success. In his quarterfinal with Sebastian Korda, he made 83 percent of his first deliveries.
“The whole tournament I’ve been serving really well, and I needed it,” Djokovic said.
WATCH: Djokovic grades his performance against Korda
But if Dimitrov feels rested and ready, he does have a chance. Last year he beat Carlos Alcaraz and made the final here. And while Djokovic has won eight straight sets, we still don’t know exactly where his level is, or where he is in his partnership with Andy Murray. He didn’t win a match between the Australian Open and Miami, and none of his wins this week have come against a Top 15 opponent. He still seems like someone who is searching for his top gear.
That said, a 12-1 head-to-head is tough to get around. Yes, Dimitrov has improved his serve, and he can disrupt his opponents with his one-handed backhand. But whatever he does, it doesn’t work against Djokovic. Winner: Djokovic—Steve Tignor
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