{"id":36827,"date":"2025-03-29T02:18:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-29T02:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=36827"},"modified":"2025-03-29T02:18:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-29T02:18:00","slug":"novak-djokovic-reveals-lionel-messis-son-set-him-a-lavish-target-after-they-exchange-gifts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=36827","title":{"rendered":"Novak Djokovic reveals Lionel Messi\u2019s son set him a lavish target after they exchange gifts"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Juan<\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n
Juan Martin del Potro, Lionel Messi and Novak Djokovic<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Novak Djokovic saluted the presence of another iconic sportsman as Lionel Messi watched his latest masterclass at the Miami Open.<\/p>\n

Djokovic<\/a>\u00a0needed just 69 minutes to secure a one-sided 6-2 6-3 win against his Grigor Dimitrov, as he powered into the Miami Open final on Sunday.<\/p>\n

A win in that match will hand the legendary Serbian a 100th career title and tick off another remarkable record in a career that is refusing to come to an end.<\/p>\n

While Djokovic\u2019s brilliance on court was mesmerising, a lot of the attention off the court was focused on Argentinian soccer great Messi, who watched Djokovic in action from the stands.<\/p>\n

Inter Miami star Messi posed for a photo with Djokovic and Argentine tennis great Juan Martin del Potro after the match, with the 24-time Grand Slam champion honoured to play in front of another sporting giant.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great honour to have King Leo in the stands. I think it\u2019s the first time I\u2019ve played in front of Messi, and honestly, I was a little nervous,\u201d said Djokovic.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am very grateful for his attendance with his family. I have always been a fan of him, as most of the world has, throughout his career.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was also asked about Messi in his press conference as he added: \u201cI\u2019ve watched him play a few times. I think finals of World Cup, I watched when he won with Argentina. I think I watched him last year once. I think it was with L.A. with Inter Miami.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/canvas><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/canvas><\/canvas>\u201cObviously thrilled to have his whole family. I did see him after the match. Came by the locker room. So we spent some time talking and exchanging gifts.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s huge honour. I mean, he\u2019s such a great athlete, not just a football player. His impact on the world of sport in the last 20 years has been immense.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo have him watch me live obviously brings me great, great joy and excitement, and also a bit of pressure, to be honest.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was rated by one of his sons today as 8 out of 10, which is pretty good. He with a serious face told me I have too make 10 out of 10 next match.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I have quite a bit of pressure from Messi\u2019s son there. Yeah, we joked around. It was nice to meet with his whole family. It was very touching moment for me because it\u2019s one thing that he comes, but then bringing his whole family, his kids, his wife.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a young father myself, I know what that means. It\u2019s different when you bring the whole family. I was very touched by that and his willingness to spend some time after. I value that time with him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a wonderful moment for me and for this tournament and tennis in general for him to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Juan Martin del Potro, Lionel Messi and Novak Djokovic Novak Djokovic saluted the presence of another iconic sportsman as Lionel Messi watched his latest masterclass at the… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":36828,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36827","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tennis"],"yoast_head":"\nNovak Djokovic reveals Lionel Messi\u2019s son set him a lavish target after they exchange gifts - 24\/7 News America<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=36827\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Novak Djokovic reveals Lionel Messi\u2019s son set him a lavish target after they exchange gifts - 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