Stefanos Tsitsipas Upsets World No. 1 Novak Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 to Reach Miami Open Semifinals

Stefanos Tsitsipas delivered the performance of his 2026 season Thursday afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium, upsetting world No. 1 Novak Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 to advance to the Miami Open semifinals. The 27-year-old Greek star showed tremendous mental fortitude in the deciding set, saving three break points while serving at 5-5 before breaking Djokovic's serve in the final game to complete a stunning victory over the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

Tsitsipas controlled the opening set with aggressive baseline play and excellent serve placement, winning 78% of his first-serve points while consistently pushing Djokovic behind the baseline with deep, penetrating groundstrokes. The Greek player was particularly effective with his signature one-handed backhand, finding angles and pace that troubled the Serbian legend throughout the early stages.

Djokovic responded brilliantly in the second set, adjusting his court positioning and return placement to neutralize Tsitsipas' aggressive style. The 37-year-old veteran broke serve twice in the middle of the set and appeared to have seized momentum heading into the crucial third set, where his experience and clutch gene typically prove decisive.

However, Tsitsipas refused to fold under pressure, producing his best tennis in the final set when the match was on the line. The Athens native saved three break points in the 10th game with a combination of bold shot-making and improved first-serve percentage, keeping the set level before capitalizing on his own opportunity in the 12th game.

"This victory means everything to me," Tsitsipas said during his on-court interview, still catching his breath from the intense three-hour battle. "Novak is the greatest competitor our sport has ever seen, and to beat him in a match like this gives me incredible confidence. I felt like I played my best tennis when I needed it most, and that's something I've been working on all year with my team."

The upset victory sends Tsitsipas to his first Masters 1000 semifinal since the 2023 Monte Carlo Masters and represents a significant breakthrough in what had been a frustrating early season. The former world No. 3 has struggled with consistency over the past 18 months but showed signs of returning to his best form with this statement win.

For Djokovic, the defeat was a rare setback in what has been an otherwise dominant start to 2026. The Serbian star had won his previous 12 matches and was seeking his fourth Miami Open title, but couldn't find his best level when it mattered most in the deciding set. Despite the loss, Djokovic remains in excellent position heading into the clay court season and the French Open.

Tsitsipas will face either Carlos Alcaraz or Taylor Fritz in Friday's semifinal, where he'll look to reach his first Masters 1000 final since winning the Monte Carlo title in 2022.