MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — On a challenging Sunday at the Miami Open final, Novak Djokovic encountered numerous hurdles including a lengthy delay exceeding 5 1/2 hours before the match could commence, an eye infection, and a court made slippery by high humidity levels following the rain. Yet, the fiercest challenge came from Jakub Mensik, a towering 6-foot-4 and robust 19-year-old, who managed to outplay the 37-year-old Serbian star. Mensik triumphed with a scoreline of 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4), securing his inaugural ATP title.
Arriving at the tournament ranked at 54, the teen from the Czech Republic battled through the match with composed determination and an impressive 130 mph serve. Mensik powered 14 aces and was broken only once during the match. His victory was sealed with a service winner on match point, upon which he collapsed onto the court in jubilation.
During the post-match ceremony that spanned 2 hours and 3 minutes, Mensik expressed admiration towards Djokovic, remarking, “You’re the one I idolized when I was young. I started playing tennis because of you.” Mensik’s triumph disrupted Djokovic’s pursuit of his 100th career title and a record seventh Miami Open win. While Djokovic will await another opportunity, Mensik has proven he is ready to challenge the elite players in the sport.
Djokovic, aiming for his 100th career title, acknowledged the young player’s remarkable performance. “This is a joyous moment for him and his family — an unbelievable tournament, first of many,” Djokovic said. He admitted regretfully, “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 audience largely supported Djokovic, who had not graced the Miami Open since 2019. More than three-quarters of the attendees remained despite the prolonged delay, energetically chanting and singing his name during critical phases of the match. Djokovic, not always favored by the crowd earlier in his career, appreciated the support, citing it as one of the warmest receptions he’s ever experienced.
Nevertheless, Djokovic seemed slightly impaired by an evident eye issue, which displayed redness below the eyelid. During the initial set, he applied eye drops twice during changeovers, although it was unclear if his vision was affected. Post-match, he refrained from discussing his eye condition, simply stating, “I didn’t feel my greatest on the court.”
“It was a weird day,” Djokovic reflected, noting the conditions affected both players. “You have to accept the circumstances. I tried to make the most out of what I had or was facing, but, yeah, it was quite different from any other day of the tournament for me.” He also slipped twice on the court due to the 90% humidity following hours of rain. During the humid conditions, Djokovic requested sawdust to be sprinkled on his damp grip.
Previously, Mensik had fallen to Djokovic in a three-set battle at the Shanghai Masters last October, acknowledging his nervous play before that match. This Miami Open final marked Mensik’s first appearance in an ATP 1000 final. At the time of Djokovic’s first Miami Open victory in 2007, Mensik was not even two years old.
Djokovic had recognized Mensik’s potential, inviting him to training sessions in Belgrade when Mensik was just 16. He noted, “He has the complete game. His serve is incredible, powerful, precise.”
Through the match, Mensik displayed increased confidence and eventually broke into a 3-0 lead. Even as Djokovic broke back at 4-3, gaining momentum as the crowd rallied behind him, Mensik’s resilience shone through once more. He maintained a 6-5 lead, surviving a Djokovic tumble and holding the game with his seventh ace.
In the initial set tiebreak, Mensik surged to a 5-0 lead. Demonstrating skill and agility, he managed a leaping backhand volley winner, while Djokovic faltered, missing a straightforward forehand drop shot into the net. Ultimately, Mensik clinched the first set with an assertive overhead smash.
The showdown was originally slated for a 3 p.m. start but was repeatedly postponed by rain and by the completion of the women’s doubles final. Rain initially halted play during the women’s doubles final match at 12:50 p.m. and returned briefly before the women’s doubles could resume after being halted by rain again.
When the women’s doubles match resumed an hour later, Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider claimed victory with a third-set match tiebreaker score of 6-3, 6-7 (5), and 10-2.