Jakub Mensik produced a stunning performance to defeat Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7-4) and 7-6 (7-4) to win the Miami Open title for the first time in his career.
The 19-year-old denied his childhood hero the opportunity to win his 100th ATP title with a dominant performance, as Djokovic struggled to get going in the encounter.
Djokovic was aiming to join Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) as the only three men in the professional era with 100 or more titles, but he fell short with a disappointing showing.
Mensik won the first set 7-4 before completing the victory in another tiebreak in the second set.
The Czech Republic’s young star held on to earn one of the most important wins in his career as he became the second youngest player to win the Miami Open after Carlos Alcaraz in 2022.
He defeated Jack Draper in the round of 16 and sent world number four, Taylor Fritz, packing in the semifinals before crowning it up against Djokovic.
Djokovic’s wait for his 100th continues, and his wait for a first ATP title since 2003 will linger for another tournament.
Mensik was excited to win his first-ever title against his boyhood hero.
He said, “There is no harder task in tennis than to beat him in the finals.
“You’re the one I idolised when I was young. I started playing tennis because of you.
“But of course I felt really great, and it’s my time, so I just tried to focus on the match like I did before in previous rounds.”
Djokovic admitted that Mensik was the better player in the clash, while congratulating him for his unbelievable performance.
He said, “This is Jakub’s moment -the moment of his team, the moment of his family. Congratulations, unbelievable tournament.
“It hurts me to admit it, but you were better! In the clutch moments, you delivered the goods. Unbelievable serving and just a phenomenal effort mentally to stay tough in a difficult moment.
Djokovic struggled with his eye during the clash, saying he didn’t feel good on the court.
He said, “I’m never really happy to lose, but he’s one of the very few players that I would be happier to lose to, to be honest.
“I’ve seen him play when he was 15 or 16 and invited him. We had some training blocks together. He was training at my club in Belgrade (in 2022), and to see his development and evolution is really great, amazing.
“I could see back then already that he’s going to be one of the top players of the world. I’m super glad that he’s using the potential that he has because he’s got the complete game.
“His serve is incredible, powerful, and precise, and he wins a lot of free points with the first serve.
“Backhand as well. Czech school, they always have a great backhand. But forehand, he’s improved a lot. And movement for a tall, big guy like that, he slides and moves well.
“He still can improve, of course, so I’m sure we’ll be seeing him around.”
Mensik became the first Czech player to win an ATP Masters 1000 event since Tomas Berdych prevailed in 2005 in Paris.
He is expected to rise to a career-high 24th in the rankings, two years after he was ranked 390th in the world.
19-year-old Mensik Stuns Djokovic To Win Miami Open Title is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Source: The Whistler
