Novak Djokovic faced a series of challenges in the Miami Open final on Sunday—an over 5.5-hour delay, an eye infection, and a slippery court caused by high humidity following rain. However, the biggest hurdle came from 19-year-old Czech phenom Jakub Mensik, who outperformed the 37-year-old Serbian with a 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4) victory to secure his first ATP title.
Ranked 54th entering the tournament, Mensik showed remarkable composure and power, delivering a blistering 130 mph serve and racking up 14 aces while being broken just once. He sealed the win with a service ace, collapsing on his back in celebration.
During the post-match ceremony, Mensik expressed admiration for Djokovic, saying, “You’re the one I idolized when I was young. I started playing tennis because of you.”
Djokovic was aiming for his 100th career title and a record seventh Miami Open crown, but he’ll have to wait for that milestone. Despite the loss, Djokovic praised Mensik’s performance, acknowledging, “It’s a joyous moment for him and his family—an unbelievable tournament, first of many. It hurts me to admit it, but you were better. In the clutch moments, you delivered the goods. That’s a great quality for a young player like yourself.”
The crowd, predominantly supportive of Djokovic, stayed loyal despite the lengthy delay. Over three-quarters of the fans remained after the rain, chanting “No-vak!” and cheering his name during critical moments. Djokovic, who hadn’t played in Miami since 2019, acknowledged the warm reception, saying it was one of the most heartfelt crowds he’d ever experienced.
However, Djokovic appeared affected by his eye issue, with noticeable redness under his eyelid. He used eyedrops during changeovers in the first set, though he didn’t elaborate much afterward, saying only, “I didn’t feel my greatest on the court.”
The match also saw Djokovic slip twice due to the slick court conditions from the humidity, which reached 90% after the rain. He even asked the umpire for a bucket of sawdust to manage his wet grip.
Mensik had previously faced Djokovic in a three-set match at the Shanghai Masters in October, but he admitted to feeling overly nervous then. This time, he played with confidence, showing no signs of fear.
In the first set, Mensik jumped to a 3-0 lead with an early break, but Djokovic broke back at 4-3. The set remained competitive until Mensik held serve for a 6-5 lead, capitalizing on Djokovic’s slip while chasing a drop shot. He closed the set with his seventh ace.
In the first-set tiebreak, Mensik dominated, racing to a 5-0 lead. A leaping backhand volley winner and Djokovic’s unforced forehand error helped Mensik secure the set. He finished it off with an overhead smash for a winner.
The final was delayed until 8:37 p.m. due to rain, which had started around 12:50 p.m. during the women’s doubles final between Mirra Andreeva/Diana Shnaider and Cristina Bucsa/Miyu Kato. After a brief stop in play, rain resumed, causing more delays before the match finally began.
Mensik’s win marks the start of what could be a promising career, while Djokovic will have to wait for his next chance at a milestone title.
