Miami Open: Another day, another record for Novak Djokovic

Djokovic drew level for ATP Masters 1000 wins with Nadal after a routine triumph over Rinky Hijikata on Friday, taking his career total in the marquee tournaments on the men's tour to 410.

Now he has moved past Nadal after a 6-1, 7-6[1] against Ugo Carabelli gave him his 411th Masters 1000 win, as Djokovic again showed his joy on court as he plays at the Miami Open for the first time in six years.

"I'm honoured to have another milestone, another record broken," said Djokovic.

"There's always something on the line pretty much every time I play, and of course that motivates me to do well at tournaments."

Djokovic, who is the No. 4 seed at the Miami Open, fired 10 aces in a match that lasted an hour and 46 minutes to set up a last-16 tie with Lorenzo Musetti.

It was another solid performance from Djokovic, who arrived in Miami with big doubts over his form and ambition to perform in tournaments outside of the Grand Slams after he lost his first match at the Indian Wells Masters earlier this month against Botic van de Zandschulp.

Yet with Carlos Alcaraz going out in surprising fashion and Indian Wells champion Jack Draper already eliminated in Miami, Djokovic may be starting to believe his 100th career title could come in Miami.

His run in Miami has also given his ATP Ranking a welcome boost, as he looks to push for a return to the top four of the list ahead of the French Open.

While former world No 1 Djokovic has insisted he is no longer chasing ranking points at this stage of his career, a top four seeding for the French Open and Wimbledon would be welcome as he looks to win a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title to seal one of the last big targets of his career.

If he can get into the top four of the ATP Rankings ahead of the next major of the year at Roland Garros, it would ensure he avoids a meeting with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, as well as No. 2 Alexander Zverev and No 3 Carlos Alcaraz.

Djokovic still has some ground to make up on world No. 4 Taylor Fritz in his race to achieve that goal, but there is an expectation that he will play a reduced tournament schedule in the European clay court season.

With that in mind, his match wins in the Masters 1000 event in Miami will give his ranking a healthy boost and if he could go all the way and win a record-breaking seventh title in Florida, he will be knocking on the door of a return to the top four.

The Serbian has also been boosted by early exits in Miami for the players just behind him in the top ten of the ATP Rankings.

"Rankings are not so important for me now," insisted Djokovic in his press conference in Miami.

"My objective is to be able to play my best tennis on the Grand Slams and the tournaments where I participate. My schedule is revised, so obviously I'm not chasing the ranking points and everything.

"It's different nowadays maybe than it was a few years back, for most of my career to be honest. I'm happy to win a Grand Slam and big tournament rather than getting to No 1. Right now that's more important for me."

Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Draper are among the star names who crashed out in Miami early, enduring Djokovic's current position in the rankings will not be under threat unless world No 6 Casper Ruud outperforms him in the next few days.

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