Czech Teen Jakub Mensik Defeats Novak Djokovic in Miami Open Final
Nineteen-year-old Jakub Mensik achieved a remarkable upset by defeating his childhood idol, Novak Djokovic, with a score of 7-6, 7-6 on Sunday, earning his first Association of Tennis Professionals title at the Miami Open. This victory denied...
TroibNews 
Nineteen-year-old Jakub Mensik achieved a remarkable upset by defeating his childhood idol, Novak Djokovic, with a score of 7-6, 7-6 on Sunday, earning his first Association of Tennis Professionals title at the Miami Open. This victory denied the former number one the chance to secure his 100th career trophy.
Ranked 54th in the Czech Republic, Mensik faced daunting odds in his second ATP final but relied on his strongest asset—14 aces—to triumph over Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion. Overcome with emotion, Mensik collapsed onto the court after sealing his victory with an unreturnable serve.
At 37, Djokovic became the oldest player to reach a Masters 1000 final, aiming to join the ranks of Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer as the only men in the Open Era with 100 or more titles. However, he seemed to lose momentum in the closing moments of the match.
The match began after several hours of rain delays, with Djokovic appearing with swelling near his right eye. His initial performance was shaky; he gave Mensik an early break due to a wayward shot in the second game and stumbled and fell in the fifth.
Despite the rocky start, Djokovic managed to equalize the set, but he became visibly frustrated as Mensik surged to a 5-0 lead in the tiebreak, expressing his discontent towards his box, where former rival and current coach Andy Murray sat in silence.
Throughout the match, Mensik maintained his composure, celebrating his first set victory with a pumped fist after clinching it with an overhead smash.
The second set unfolded in a thrilling contest, with Mensik skillfully using his speed to counter Djokovic's deft drop shots at the net. The Serbian showcased his experienced instincts by saving two break points during the fifth game but gradually showed signs of fatigue, ultimately succumbing to exhaustion following a lengthy 21-shot rally in the crucial tiebreak.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this article for TROIB News
Ranked 54th in the Czech Republic, Mensik faced daunting odds in his second ATP final but relied on his strongest asset—14 aces—to triumph over Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion. Overcome with emotion, Mensik collapsed onto the court after sealing his victory with an unreturnable serve.
At 37, Djokovic became the oldest player to reach a Masters 1000 final, aiming to join the ranks of Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer as the only men in the Open Era with 100 or more titles. However, he seemed to lose momentum in the closing moments of the match.
The match began after several hours of rain delays, with Djokovic appearing with swelling near his right eye. His initial performance was shaky; he gave Mensik an early break due to a wayward shot in the second game and stumbled and fell in the fifth.
Despite the rocky start, Djokovic managed to equalize the set, but he became visibly frustrated as Mensik surged to a 5-0 lead in the tiebreak, expressing his discontent towards his box, where former rival and current coach Andy Murray sat in silence.
Throughout the match, Mensik maintained his composure, celebrating his first set victory with a pumped fist after clinching it with an overhead smash.
The second set unfolded in a thrilling contest, with Mensik skillfully using his speed to counter Djokovic's deft drop shots at the net. The Serbian showcased his experienced instincts by saving two break points during the fifth game but gradually showed signs of fatigue, ultimately succumbing to exhaustion following a lengthy 21-shot rally in the crucial tiebreak.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this article for TROIB News
