Miami, Florida – In a thrilling upset at the Miami Open final on Sunday, 19-year-old Jakub Mensik denied Novak Djokovic his 100th career title, clinching his first ATP trophy with a 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4) victory. The 6-foot-4 Czech phenom, ranked 54th entering the tournament, outshone the 37-year-old Serbian legend in a match delayed over 5½ hours by rain, hampered by a slippery court, and complicated by Djokovic’s visible eye infection.
Mensik’s power and poise dominated the Hard Rock Stadium court, where he unleashed 14 aces—including a 130 mph serve—and dropped just one service game in a match lasting 2 hours and 3 minutes. On match point, he sealed the win with a service winner, collapsing on his back in disbelief. “You’re the one I idolized when I was young,” Mensik told Djokovic during the ceremony. “I started playing tennis because of you.”
The Student Becomes The Master(s) Champion 🏆
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 31, 2025
The moment @mensik_jakub_ completed his 7-6 7-6 victory over Novak Djokovic! #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/GDqFHrvsPB
Djokovic, chasing a record seventh Miami Open crown, faced a tough day. Battling 90% humidity after rain, he slipped twice, requested sawdust for his grip, and applied eyedrops for an eye infection showing redness. “I didn’t feel my greatest,” he admitted post-match, calling it “a weird day” but refusing to dwell on his condition. Despite the setbacks, he praised Mensik: “In the clutch moments, you delivered the goods. This is a joyous moment for him—first of many.”
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The crowd, over three-quarters of whom stayed despite the delay, roared “No-vak!” throughout, a warm reception Djokovic called one of his best ever in Miami. Yet, Mensik’s fearless play shone brighter. After losing to Djokovic in Shanghai last October, he flipped the script, racing to a 5-0 lead in the first-set tiebreak with a leaping backhand volley and an overhead smash. In the second set, he broke early, weathered a Djokovic comeback, and closed it out in another tiebreak.
The match, originally set for 3 p.m., started at 8:37 p.m. due to rain that also disrupted the women’s doubles final. Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider won that title earlier, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 10-2, after multiple rain delays. For Mensik, who trained with Djokovic at 16, this victory over his idol signals a meteoric rise. “He has the complete game,” Djokovic said. “His serve is incredible.”
Key Points: Jakub Mensik Wins Miami Open, Stops Djokovic’s 100th Title
- Upset Victory: 19-year-old Jakub Mensik defeated Novak Djokovic 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4) in the Miami Open final, claiming his first ATP title and preventing Djokovic’s 100th career win.
- Mensik’s Dominance: Ranked 54th, the 6-foot-4 Czech hit 14 aces, including a 130 mph serve, and lost just one service game in the 2-hour, 3-minute match.
- Djokovic’s Struggles: The 37-year-old Serbian faced a 5½-hour rain delay, a slippery court (90% humidity), and an eye infection requiring eyedrops, admitting he didn’t feel his best.
- Clutch Performance: Mensik shone in tiebreaks, taking the first 5-0 and sealing the match with a service winner, falling to the court in celebration.
- Emotional Moment: Mensik told Djokovic, his childhood idol, “I started playing tennis because of you,” during the ceremony.
- Djokovic’s Praise: Djokovic, denied a seventh Miami Open title, lauded Mensik’s clutch play and predicted “first of many” wins for the teen.
- Crowd Support: Over 75% of fans stayed despite the delay, chanting “No-vak!”—a rare warm reception for Djokovic in Miami since 2019.
- Context: Mensik, who trained with Djokovic at 16, avenged a prior loss in Shanghai, while the match followed a rain-disrupted women’s doubles final won by Andreeva and Shnaider.
