Novak Djokovic breaks Roger Federer's record for oldest player ever to reach a Masters 1000 semifinal

At 37 years and 10 months, Novak Djokovic has broken the record for oldest Masters 1000 semifinalist in history, after defeating American Sebastian Korda, 6-3, 7-6 (4), in the quarterfinals of Miami on Thursday.

He surpasses the previous record held by Roger Federer, who was 37 years and 7 months when he reached the semifinals—and eventually went on to capture the title—at the same event, the Miami Open, in 2019.

The two men now make up the entire Top 10 list of oldest semifinalists at Masters 1000 events, a level of tournament that began in 1990.

OLDEST MASTERS 1000 SEMIFINALISTS:

• 37 years, 10 months: Djokovic at 2025 Miami
• 37 years, 7 months: Federer at 2019 Miami
• 37 years, 7 months: Federer at 2019 Indian Wells
• 37 years, 4 months: Djokovic at 2024 Shanghai
• 37 years, 2 months: Federer at 2018 Paris
• 37 years, 2 months: Federer at 2018 Shanghai
• 37 years, 0 months: Federer at 2018 Cincinnati
• 36 years, 10 months: Djokovic at 2024 Monte Carlo
• 36 years, 7 months: Federer at 2018 Indian Wells
• 36 years, 5 months: Djokovic at 2023 Paris

Before today there was one other name on the list, in 10th place—John Isner, who made the semis in Canada in 2021 at 36 years and 3 months.

Korda nearly defeated Djokovic in their only previous meeting, holding a match point before ultimately falling in the final of the Australian Open lead-up event in Adelaide two years ago, 6-7 (8), 7-6 (3), 6-4, and after a quick 29-minute first set on Thursday—in which Djokovic won the last dozen points in a row—Korda gave him another scare in the second set.

The American broke for the first time in the match for a 2-0 lead in the second set, held for 3-0 and ended up hanging onto that lead for much of the set, going up 4-1 and even 5-2. But Djokovic never went away, eventually breaking back and holding for 5-all, and then a few more holds later winning the tie-break to close it out in straight sets.

It was a high quality match from both sides, as both players finished with more winners than unforced errors—Djokovic 18 to 17, Korda 19 to 18.

Earlier in the tournament, Djokovic surpassed another one of his biggest rivals' all-time Masters 1000 records with his third-round victory over Argentina's Camilo Ugo Carabelli—it was his 411th career win at a Masters 1000 event, surpassing Rafael Nadal's previous mark of 410.

Djokovic is now up to 413 after his quarterfinal win over Korda.

Awaiting him in the semifinals is Grigor Dimitrov, who won his quarterfinal against Francisco Cerundolo on Wednesday, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 7-6 (3).

Djokovic leads their head-to-head, 12-1, winning their last 10 in a row.