Czech teenager, Jakub Mensik, produced the biggest victory of his young career by defeating Novak Djokovic 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4) in the Miami Open final, securing his first ATP title. The 19-year-old, ranked 54th before the tournament, became the ninth-youngest Masters 1000 champion in history and the second-youngest in Miami, behind Carlos Alcaraz. His triumph was remarkable not only because of the players he had to overcome but also due to the resilience and skill he displayed under pressure against one of tennis' greatest players.

Djokovic, who was aiming for his 100th career title and a record-extending seventh Miami Open crown, battled through multiple challenges, including a five-and-a-half-hour rain delay, an eye infection, and a humid, slippery court. Despite these hurdles, the biggest obstacle was Mensik’s power and poise under pressure, which kept the Serbian on the backfoot throughout both sets. Mensik served 14 aces and was broken only once, demonstrating incredible mental and physical fortitude in both tiebreaks.

“You’re the one I idolized when I was young,” Mensik said to Djokovic in the trophy presentation. “I started playing tennis because of you.” Djokovic graciously acknowledged Mensik’s triumph, admitting, “It hurts me to admit it, but you were better. In the clutch moments, you delivered the goods. For a young player like yourself, this is a great feature.”

A Stunning Rise for Mensik

Mensik’s journey to the Miami Open title was filled with unexpected twists. Just before his first-round match against Roberto Bautista Agut, he nearly withdrew due to inflammation in his right knee. The teenager visited the referee’s office to announce his withdrawal but found the official was out for lunch. Instead, a physiotherapist convinced him to try painkillers and undergo treatment. “I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t run,” Mensik recalled. “But after a few minutes of treatment, I started to feel a little relief. I took different painkillers, which helped a little bit. I thought, ‘OK, let’s try it. I can walk. I can run. Let’s see.'”

What followed was an extraordinary run, during which Mensik dropped just two sets en route to the final. He defeated British No. 1 Jack Draper and fourth seed Taylor Fritz before facing Djokovic. His victory over Djokovic was particularly significant given their history. The Serbian legend invited Mensik to train with him in Belgrade after the 2022 Australian Open when the Czech was still a junior. Their first official ATP meeting came in October 2024 at the Shanghai Masters, where Mensik took the opening set before fading. This time, however, he held his nerve to complete the biggest win of his career.

Djokovic’s Struggles and Mensik’s Moment

Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, had not played in Miami since 2019, but the crowd was firmly behind him. More than three-quarters of the fans stayed despite the massive rain delay, chanting “No-vak!” at key moments. However, Djokovic appeared physically compromised. He struggled with his eye infection, using eyedrops during two changeovers, and slipped twice on the humid court. Sweating profusely, he even requested a bucket of sawdust to improve his grip. “It was a weird day,” Djokovic admitted. “You have to accept the circumstances. I tried to make the most out of what I had, but yeah, it was quite different from any other day of the tournament for me.”

Despite his difficulties, Djokovic broke back in the first set after falling behind 3-0. However, Mensik remained aggressive, executing a leaping backhand volley winner and taking advantage of a Djokovic drop shot error to race ahead 5-0 in the tiebreak before closing it out. The second set followed a similar pattern. Mensik did not face a break point and held his nerve in another tiebreak, delivering a decisive serve out wide to seal victory. Mensik collapsed onto his back in disbelief after match point, soaking in the moment of a lifetime.

A Future Star on the Rise

With his victory, Mensik has skyrocketed to a career-high No. 24 in the ATP rankings. His powerful serve and explosive backhand have drawn comparisons to some of the game’s best young players, and his ability to hold his nerve against a legend like Djokovic suggests he is ready for the sport’s biggest stages. Djokovic, meanwhile, will have to wait for his 100th title, but he remains optimistic about his game. His improved serving under coach Andy Murray was a bright spot, even if he fell short in Miami. As for Mensik, he is already thinking about the future, joking, “Imagine me in 20 years from now, when I will be 39, playing the finals? I hope so, but it’s crazy to think about it like this.”