Jakub Mensik showers praise on ‘idol’ and ‘GOAT’ Novak Djokovic after denying him 100th ATP title in Miami final
Jakub Mensik became the second youngest player to win the Miami Open after overcoming Novak Djokovic challenge in the final.
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Novak Djokovic, Jakub Mensik (Image via X/Wolfy, Australian Open)
Sunday (March 30) has now become a memorable day in the life of Jakub Mensik, for it was the day when he beat his idol, Novak Djokovic, in the Miami Open final. Mensik displayed an incredible serving performance to clinch a 7-6(4), 7-6(4) win and deny Djokovic his 100th ATP trophy.
Mensik became the first player from the Czech Republic to win an ATP Masters 1000 trophy since Tomas Berdych at the Paris Masters in 2005. Before this, Mensik had never won an ATP title in his career.
It wasn’t his first match either against the 24-time Grand Slam champion. They had met in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Shanghai Masters, which Djokovic won in three sets before reaching the final and losing the title to World No.1 Jannik Sinner.
This Miami Open was the first tournament where Djokovic reached a final for the first time since the Shanghai Masters. Had Djokovic won the trophy at Hard Rock Stadium, he would have become the third ATP player to reach the 100-title mark after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer. Following his win over Nole, the 19-year-old only had kind words for his idol without whom Mensik had said he wouldn’t have picked up the tennis racket.
Novak, everyone knows you’re the one… the reason I’m here. I watched you growing up. I started to play tennis because of you. There is not a harder task for a tennis player than to beat you in the final of a tournament. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done in this sport and for everyone. You’re an incredible person. The greatest of all time.
Jakub Mensik said during the trophy presentation
Mensik also became the fourth player to win his career’s first title at the ATP Masters 1000 event. Before him, Roberto Carretero, Chris Woodruff, and Albert Portas did it.
Novak Djokovic heaps massive praise on Jakub Mensik
The 18-year difference between the two finalists, Novak Djokovic (37) and Jakub Mensik (19) marked the biggest age gap in an ATP Masters 1000 final. Following the defeat, Djokovic lauded Mensik’s serves as the teenager hit 111 aces throughout the tournament, 14 of which he hit in the final.
This is Jakub’s moment — moment of his team, moment of his family. Congratulations, unbelievable tournament. It hurts me to admit it, but you were better! In the clutch moments, you delivered the goods [with] unbelievable serving and just a phenomenal effort mentally as well to stay tough in a difficult moment.
Novak Djokovic said during his runner-up speech
Mensik has also become the second-youngest player to win the Miami Open after Carlos Alcaraz, who bagged the trophy back in 2022 when he was 18 years old. Six-time Miami Open champion Djokovic, on the other hand, missed the opportunity to break the tie with Andre Agassi with the most titles in the second ATP Masters 1000 of the season.
Djokovic was playing the Miami Open for the first time since 2019 and last lifted the title in 2016. The last time Djokovic claimed a tour-level trophy was at the 2023 ATP Finals by beating Jannik Sinner. He last lifted an official title by overcoming Alcaraz in the 2024 Paris Olympics final.
Jakub Mensik climbs to career-high No.24 in ATP rankings after beating Novak Djokovic in Miami final
Jakub Mensik started the tournament as a No.54 player. By clinching 1000 points, he had jumped several spots up in the rankings to occupy a career-high No.24 position.
He surpassed Jiri Lehecka to become the second-ranked ATP player from his country after World No.21 Tomas Machac. Former World No.1 Novak Djokovic, on the other hand, will remain in the fifth position with 4,510 ranking points.
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