Jakub Mensik has become the second-youngest player in history to win the Miami Masters after ousting Novak Djokovic in two tiebreakers to win his first Tour title.
The 19-year-old Czech capped off his breakthrough run at the tournament with a 7-6(4), 7-6(4), win over Djokovic, who was bidding to claim his 100th Tour trophy. Mensik is only the second player to beat the Serbian in an ATP final while being ranked outside the top 50 after Stan Wawrinka. He is also the second teenager to win a Masters 1000 event while ranked outside the top 20 since the format was introduced in 1990.
Despite his lack of experience at the top of the game, Mensik wasn’t fazed by the occasion as he fired 29 winners en route to victory and only dropped serve once. Djokovic was the third top 10 player he beat in the tournament after Indian Wells champion Jack Draper and Taylor Fritz.
“My game was getting better and better. Winning against Novak in the tiebreakers, it feels crazy, incredible,” Mensik said during his press conference.
“I was watching him growing up. Because of him, I started to play tennis. So it feels incredible that I had the opportunity for a second time to play against him. And to beat him in this tournament in the finals, it was just a dream to win an ATP tournament, and even better that it’s a 1000.
“Playing against Novak in the finals makes it more special.”
Mensik was born 17 days after Djokovic made his Masters 1000 debut. A former world No.2 in juniors, the Czech has rapidly shot up the rankings since making his top 100 debut in February 2024. Earlier this year, he was runner-up at the Doha Open and defeated Casper Ruud at the Australian Open.
However, it is his Miami run that has elevated Mensik to the limelight. Something he wouldn’t have imagined two weeks ago when he doubted his participation in the event due to a right knee problem.
“Two days before the first match, I started to feel my knee. I checked with the doctors. There was nothing spectacular. It was just a big inflammation, which was really big that I couldn’t run, even walk,” he revealed.
“Somehow I won the first round, and basically then I had one day off, which of course for my knee was much better. Day by day the knee was getting better and with that also my game.”
Mensik has risen to 24th in the PIF ATP standings following his Miami triumph. Immediately after beating Djokovic, he marked winning his maiden trophy by writing on the camera lens ‘the first of many.’
“I know that this is not the end, and I know that this is just the beginning for me,” he said.
“I’m still 19 years old, so I have all of my career in front of me. Of course, it feels really great to have this (the trophy) next to me, but it’s not just about the one title, one tournament. I’m hungry for more.
“Of course right now I will celebrate, rest. When I come back home, I’m going back to work and trying to get better and better because there is a lot of space for improvement in my game.
“I will, me and my team, do my best to lift these trophies more often.”
Mensik is currently the youngest player in the top 50.
