MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — In a dramatic finale at the Miami Open on Sunday, Novak Djokovic encountered multiple hurdles: an unexpected delay exceeding 5 1/2 hours, a troublesome eye infection, and a slick court caused by the oppressive humidity following a bout of rain.
However, the biggest challenge proved to be the remarkable talent and athleticism of 19-year-old Jakub Mensik, standing tall at six feet four inches. The young Czech player triumphed over the seasoned Serbian, winning his first ATP title with a scoreline of 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4).
Entering the tournament ranked 54th, Mensik displayed extraordinary composure and dominated with an impressive serve clocked at 130 m.p.h. Throughout the match, he delivered 14 aces and faced only a single break point. He sealed the victory with a stunning service winner, collapsing joyously onto the court.
“You’ve been my idol since childhood,” Mensik expressed to Djokovic during the post-match ceremony that spanned two hours and three minutes. “My journey in tennis began because of you.”
Mensik’s victory derailed Djokovic’s quest for his 100th career title, and also for a record seventh Miami Open crown. While Djokovic has to wait for another opportunity, the teenage sensation appears poised to ascend among the sport’s elite.
“This is a wonderful moment for him and his family — an incredible tournament, the first of many to come,” Djokovic said. “It pains me to admit it, but you were the better player today. In crucial moments, you made it happen. For someone so young, that’s an exciting prospect.”
Despite Djokovic’s long absence from this venue since 2019, the crowd rallied behind him enthusiastically, with over three-quarters of the audience staying to cheer, chanting “No-vak!” and singing his praises at key moments of the match.
Once a polarizing figure among fans here, Djokovic acknowledged the warm support he received, declaring it one of the most heartfelt crowds he’d ever encountered.
However, the 24-time Grand Slam champion displayed signs of struggle due to his eye condition, visibly irritated and red under the eyelid. During the first set, he paused to apply eyedrops, leaving his vision’s impact uncertain.
Post-match, Djokovic remarked that he would “prefer not to discuss” his eye issue, admitting, “I didn’t feel like my best self on the court.”
“It was certainly a strange day,” he acknowledged.
“Conditions were challenging for both players,” he pointed out. “You have to adapt to what’s given to you. I tried to maximize my performance, but it was unlike any other day I experienced during the tournament.”
Throughout the match, he slipped twice on the slippery court surface, with humidity levels hitting 90% after hours of rain. Djokovic even requested a bucket of sawdust from the umpire to help with his grip.
Mensik had previously lost to Djokovic in a tight three-set match last October at the Shanghai Masters, but he claimed to have been overly anxious back then.
Making his debut in an ATP 1000 final, Mensik was just a toddler when Djokovic claimed his inaugural Miami Open title in 2007.
Djokovic recognized Mensik’s potential early, having invited him to train at his camp in Belgrade when the young talent was only 16.
“He brings a well-rounded game to the court. His serve is powerful and incredibly accurate,” Djokovic praised.
This time around, Mensik displayed a confidence not seen in Shanghai, quickly racing to a 3-0 lead with an early break. Although Djokovic managed to break back at 4-3, the match remained intensely competitive, propelling the score to 4-4 amid chants of support for the Serbian.
Mensik preserved his lead to 6-5 in a game where Djokovic tumbled in pursuit of a drop shot. He closed the set with his seventh ace.
In the first-set tiebreak, Mensik surged to a commanding 5-0 lead, including a stunning leaping backhand volley winner. A missed routine forehand drop shot by Djokovic further widened the gap. Mensik capped off the set with a powerful overhead smash.
Originally slated for 3 p.m., the match finally commenced at 8:37 p.m. due to the rain delay and the completion of the women’s doubles final.
Rain first set in South Florida at 12:50 p.m. during the initial round of the women’s doubles finals, where Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider faced off against Cristina Bucsa and Miyu Kato, with Andreeva and Shnaider leading 3-0.
After stopping at 5:30 p.m. once the rain ceased, the women took the court again once the drying equipment had prepared the surface. Yet rain resumed just as they were warming up, and the players had to retreat once more.
The women returned to complete the match about an hour later, ultimately triumphing in a third-set tiebreaker with a final score of 6-3, 6-7 (5), 10-2.
