Messi as a star guest in tennis
“King Leo” gives Djokovic on the way to the magical 100
“King Leo” gives Djokovic on the way to the magical 100
29.03.2025, 11:51 a.m.
One is the superstar in tennis, the other for many of the best footballers of all time: Novak Djokovic and Lionel Messi meet in Miami in the changing room. They give each other with compliments.
On the way to the magical 100, Novak Djokovic was happy about the high visit to the Hard Rock Stadium. “It was a great honor that King Leo was sitting in the stands,” said the Serb after his final in Miami. Often enough he saw Lionel Messi magic on the soccer field, but he “never played before his eyes”. What proves: At the age of 37, Djokovic is still experiencing small premieres on the tennis tour.
After the final movement, there was even a meeting in the locker room. Messi stopped by with his wife and children – and the Argentinian had also brought gifts. Messi plays at the Beckham Club Inter Miami in Florida.
It is also these moments for which he continues. But he is more motivated by the hunt for records, after entries in the history books. On Sunday (8 p.m. CEST/Sky) Wait the next milestone for Djokovic in a win in the final over the Czech teenager Jakub Mensik: his 100th title with the professionals. Only Roger Federer (103) and Jimmy Connors (109) managed this in front of him.
“Every time since my 99th title at the Olympic Games in Paris, I play with the view of this special success. I was in the final of Shanghai, I was close, then in the semi -finals of the Australian Open,” said Djokovic. But somehow it shouldn’t work with the historical triumph – and finally there were even quiet doubts as to whether it should be.
Does a newcomer Djokovic stop?
Djokovic lost three times: in Melbourne he gave up against Alexander Zverev, in Doha and Indian Wells it was not enough to win in his opening match. He had never experienced such a series since 2018. Boris Becker already got “bellyache” because his former protégé gave him the impression that “he is already starting to enjoy life after career”.
Djokovic was “every evening” at a different party, Becker was amazed at his podcast. But the impression from the distance – Becker is watching the action in Miami from Milan – was not right. Djokovic worked bitten with his promicoach Andy Murray, at 6: 2, 6: 3 in the semi -finals against the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrow, he convinced with an outstanding impact rate of 87 percent.
For the eighth time he is in the final of the master in Miami, he has already won the tournament six times, only one newcomer can stop him: Jakub Mensik achieved his first final through a three -set victory over the American Taylor Fritz (7: 6, 4: 6, 7: 6). The 19-year-old did not make a single break, but kept his nerves when it came to it. 25 aces beat Mensik, his “golden hand” had a reason, he later revealed in a good mood.
He also met “legend” Lionel Messi, chilled a bit with the world star from Argentina and shaken his hand, “said Mensik:” And after I shaken his hand, I didn’t wash her before the game to get a little luck. ” Happiness that he can also use against tennis legend Djokovic.