Novak Djokovic Reflects on Jakub Mensik’s Stunning Miami Open Victory
Novak Djokovic revealed that he once invited Jakub Mensik to train with him, long before the young Czech pulled off a shocking upset at the Miami Open. The 19-year-old Mensik denied Djokovic his 100th career ATP title with a 7-6(4), 7-6(4) victory, becoming the lowest-ranked player (#54) to win the Miami Open and securing his first ATP Tour title.
Mensik also became just the second teenager outside the ATP’s top 20 to win an ATP Masters 1000 title, following Michael Chang (#24, Toronto 1990).
Djokovic’s Early Recognition of Mensik’s Talent
Speaking after his defeat, Djokovic praised Mensik’s rise and reflected on their history.
“Congratulations to Mensik and his team. I’m never really happy to lose, but he is one of the very few players I don’t mind losing to,” Djokovic admitted.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion shared that he first took notice of Mensik after his 2022 Australian Open boys’ final loss and even reached out to his management.
“I saw him play when he was 15 or 16 and invited him for some training sessions. We had training blocks together at my club in Belgrade. To see his development and evolution is truly amazing. Even back then, I could see he was destined to be one of the top players in the world.”
Mensik’s Strengths and Growth
Djokovic highlighted Mensik’s well-rounded game, particularly his serve and backhand, both of which are hallmarks of Czech tennis.
“His serve is incredible—powerful and precise, earning him a lot of free points. His backhand is already world-class, but his forehand has improved tremendously. And for a big guy, he moves really well. He still has room for improvement, but I’m sure we’ll be seeing him around for a long time.”
A Growing Rivalry?
Djokovic and Mensik had previously faced off in Shanghai in 2024, where Djokovic lost a tiebreak before ultimately winning the match.
“I think he was serving even better here than in Shanghai, where he was already serving incredibly well. The game was similar, but my level was not the same as in Shanghai.”
With this breakthrough victory, Mensik has firmly established himself as one of the rising stars of men’s tennis. As Djokovic chases his milestone 100th ATP title, the young Czech may become a frequent challenger in the battles ahead.
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