At the Miami Open 2025, Novak Djokovic came close to securing a historic milestone – his 100th ATP title. After a sensational performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Djokovic defeated Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling final, many expected him to dominate again in Florida. But instead of celebrating victory, Djokovic was stopped in two dramatic tiebreak sets by a 19-year-old Czech rising star – Jakub Mensik.
Djokovic had an off day from the start. He showed up to the match with a visible bruise or swelling under his eye – possibly a stye, according to Tennis TV commentators. Throughout the match, he kept applying eye drops. Weather delays didn’t help either. Rain pushed the match back by almost six hours, and even when it resumed, the court remained slippery. Djokovic slipped and fell several times and narrowly avoided injury by letting go of his racquet mid-fall.
After the match, Djokovic graciously admitted to Mensik: “It hurts to say this, but today you were the better player.”
Mensik’s playing style is reminiscent of Alexander Zverev or Daniil Medvedev. At 193 cm tall, he boasts a huge first serve, solid backhand, and good movement for his size. His forehand can be a weakness, especially when opponents hit low slices down the line – something Djokovic did often. Still, Mensik held his ground on the forehand side and kept up in rallies.
In the final, Mensik delivered his best tennis yet. He won an incredible 56% of first serves unreturned – against arguably the best returner in tennis history. Djokovic had only one break-point game, which came when Mensik missed three first serves in a row. Otherwise, the Czech player left no opening.
But what truly stood out was Mensik’s performance in the tiebreaks. His serve became even more powerful, his decision-making sharper, and his confidence unshakable. Djokovic, in contrast, faltered – his first serve percentage dropped, and unforced errors crept in. Remarkably, Mensik played seven tiebreaks during the tournament – and won all seven.
So who exactly is Jakub Mensik?
Mensik claimed his first ATP title in Miami and wrote on the camera lens, “First of many.” Along the way, he defeated three Top 10 players: Jack Draper (world no.7 and Indian Wells champion), Taylor Fritz (no.4) in the semifinals, and Novak Djokovic (no.5) in the final. His record against Top 10 opponents now stands at an impressive 8–5. He joins an elite group of four active ATP players with a positive win-loss record in at least 10 matches against the Top 10: Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Alcaraz, and now Mensik.
At just 19 years and 210 days old, Mensik becomes the fifth-youngest ATP Masters 1000 champion ever, following Michael Chang, Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, and Holger Rune. He is also the fifth teenager to defeat Djokovic, joining the likes of Filip Krajinovic, Alcaraz, Rune, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Mensik entered the Miami Open ranked No. 54 in the world and is now the lowest-ranked player ever to win the tournament. In ATP Masters history, only five players have won a title from a lower ranking position.
Interestingly, Mensik is a lifelong fan of Novak Djokovic. After the 2022 Australian Open, Djokovic invited him to train in Belgrade and Montenegro. “He knew I admired him,” said Mensik, “and his support helped me grow. I started playing tennis because of Novak. Without him, I wouldn’t be here.”
Djokovic, in turn, has long believed in Mensik’s potential. “I’ve followed his development, even offered advice to him and his family,” said Novak in 2024. “He’s on the right track to becoming one of the best in the world.”
With his first ATP Masters title, victory over Djokovic, and a fearless game built for the big stage, Jakub Mensik has officially arrived. As the tennis world turns its eyes toward Wimbledon 2025, Mensik is no longer just a promising name — he’s a real contender.
