New Delhi: Czech teenager Jakub Mensik stunned his childhood idol Novak Djokovic to claim his maiden ATP title as he beat the Serbian legend 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4) at the 2025 Miami Open final in an upset for the ages. The 19-year-old became the ninth youngest to clinch an ATP title, showing off his hammer serve, which touched speeds of 130 mph.
Despite struggling with a swollen eye, Djokovic put up a strong fight against the young player, pushing both sets into tiebreakers. However, Mensik defied expectations and secured a remarkable victory over the 24-time Grand Slam champion, firing 14 aces along the way.
The match started after several hours of delay due to rain. Djoko was not at his best as he handed Mensik a break with a clumsy shot out of bounds in the second game and slipped in the fifth. Djokovic levelled in seventh, but the 19-year-old took advantage in the tie-break with a 5-0 head start and with an overhead smash won the first set.
In the second set, both the players battled toe-to-toe when Mensik used his speed advantage to shake Djokovic at multiple instances. Djoko landed two breakpoints in the fifth game but showed the fire before collapsing from exhaustion after 21 shot rally in a tiebreak.
GAME. SET. MENSIK. 👨🎓
Sensational @mensik_jakub_ defeats Djokovic 7-6(4) 7-6(4) to capture his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title!!!@MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/OQz7PdFG3p
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 31, 2025
With this loss, Djokovic missed the chance to claim the 100th title of his career, which would have placed him alongside Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) as the only men in the Open Era to reach the milestone.
Before the final, Mensik told ATP’s social media channels, “My tennis inspiration is Novak Djokovic. It not for him, I wouldn’t be here.” After defeating his idol in the final, Mensik showed great admiration for Djokovic, expressing gratitude for the inspiration he has provided and calling him the greatest of all time.
“Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for this sport” 🫂
Jakub Mensik shows appreciation for his idol Novak Djokovic following his #MiamiOpen victory 🫶 pic.twitter.com/vF0Ly3vBeU
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) March 31, 2025
Djokovic on defeat
In the presentation ceremony, Mensik earned some praise from his idol, Djokovic. The 37-year-old star said, “He has the complete game. His serve is incredible, powerful, precise.” He added further, “This is a joyous moment for him and his family — an unbelievable tournament, first of many. It hurts me to admit it, you were better. In the clutch moments, you delivered the goods. For a young player like yourself, this is a great feature.”
The Serbian star battled his share of issues, from the match getting delayed due to rain to playing with a swollen eye. He was seen applying eyedrops during two changeovers in the first set. Afterward, Djokovic called it a “weird day” and added that he didn’t feel his best on the court.
The match between 37-year-old Djokovic and Mensik had the biggest age gap in a Masters 1000 final and any tour-level final since 1976, ending in a shocking upset. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
