MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The much-anticipated Miami Open men’s final featuring the legendary Novak Djokovic and rising star Jakub Mensuk, just 19 years old and unseeded, faced an unexpected postponement of 5.5 hours from its scheduled 3 p.m. start at the iconic Hard Rock Stadium.
Fans waited eagerly as rain played tricks, preventing the players from stepping onto the court until 8:37 p.m., as organizers prioritized the completion of the women’s doubles final.
The downpour began at 12:50 p.m. during the women’s doubles showdown between Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider, who took an early lead against Cristina Bucsa and Miyu Kato at 3-0.
After a break, the dedicated women’s players returned to the court at 5:30 p.m. once the rain passed and court-drying machines went to work. However, minutes before warm-ups, the rain returned, forcing the players to retreat with umbrellas in hand once again.
Finally, after yet another hour, the women resumed their battle at 6:50 p.m. In a thrilling finish, Andreeva and Shnaider triumphed in a nail-biting third-set tiebreaker with scores of 6-3, 6-7 (5), 10-2.
Remarkably, around three-quarters of the crowd remained in the stadium, despite the delays. However, the doubles championship celebration was shortened for the waiting fans and players.
Ranked fourth and eyeing his seventh Miami Open title, the 37-year-old Djokovic is on a quest to tie the record held by tennis legend Andre Agassi.
Moreover, Djokovic stands on the brink of achieving his 100th professional title, which would place him third in the all-time rankings behind Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103).
On the other side of the net, Czech sensation Mensuk is making his debut in an ATP 1000 final—especially impressive considering he was only 2 years old when Djokovic secured his first Miami Open title in 2007. Djokovic’s accolades also include victories in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015, all achieved at the previous venue in Key Biscayne.
The staggering age difference of 18 years and 102 days sets a record for the largest gap in the history of ATP 1000 finals, showcasing a remarkable generational clash on the court.
