MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Novak Djokovic ran into a gauntlet of challenges at the Miami Open final on Sunday: a match delayed over 5½ hours, an eye infection, and a slick court thanks to stifling humidity after rain. But the toughest hurdle was 19-year-old, 6-foot-4 Jakub Mensik, a rising star who outplayed the 37-year-old Serbian in two tight tiebreakers, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4), to claim his first ATP title.
Ranked No. 54 coming into the tournament, the Czech teen took down Djokovic with confidence and a blistering 130 mph serve. He racked up 14 aces, dropped serve just once, and sealed the deal with a service winner on match point before collapsing onto his back in celebration. “You’re the guy I looked up to as a kid,” Mensik told Djokovic during the post-match ceremony, which wrapped up a 2-hour, 3-minute battle. “I picked up a racket because of you.”
Mensik’s breakthrough ruined Djokovic’s shot at a milestone 100th career title and a record seventh Miami Open crown. The veteran will have to wait for that moment, while Mensik looks poised to crash the top tier of the sport. “This is a huge deal for him and his family—an incredible run, and the first of many,” Djokovic said graciously. “It stings to say it, but you were the better player today. You stepped up when it counted—a big trait for a young guy like you.”
The crowd was firmly in Djokovic’s corner, a stark contrast to his earlier years in Miami, where he last played in 2019. Despite the long delay, over three-quarters of the fans stuck it out, chanting “No-vak!” and serenading him through key moments. Djokovic, who holds a men’s record 24 Grand Slam titles, called it one of the warmest receptions he’s ever gotten. “I really felt the love today,” he said.
Still, Djokovic seemed off his game, hampered by an eye condition that left visible redness under his eyelid. He used eyedrops during two changeovers in the first set, though he dodged questions about it later. “I’d rather not get into it,” he said. “I wasn’t at my best out there.” He also called it “a strange day,” noting the tough conditions were the same for both players. “You’ve got to roll with it. I did what I could, but it was a totally different vibe from the rest of the tournament.”
The court didn’t help either—Djokovic slipped twice in the first set as humidity hit 90% after hours of rain. Soaked in sweat, he even asked the umpire for a bucket of sawdust to dry his grip.
Mensik had faced Djokovic before, losing a three-setter in Shanghai last October, where he admitted to playing too timidly. This time, he brought a bolder edge. He jumped out to a 3-0 lead with an early break, only for Djokovic to claw back to 4-4 after a fan-fueled rally. Mensik held at 6-5, even as Djokovic took a spill chasing a drop shot in the doubles alley, then closed the set with his seventh ace. In the tiebreaker, Mensik surged to 5-0 with a jumping backhand volley winner and an overhead smash, capitalizing as Djokovic botched a simple forehand drop shot.
Djokovic had scouted Mensik’s talent years ago, inviting the then-16-year-old to train at his Belgrade camp. “He’s got it all,” Djokovic said. “That serve is unreal—big, accurate, and tough to read.” Mensik wasn’t even 2 when Djokovic won his first Miami Open title in 2007, and now, in his first ATP 1000 final, the kid proved he’s ready for the spotlight.
The match, slated for 3 p.m. ET, didn’t start until 8:37 p.m. due to rain and a decision to finish the women’s doubles final first. South Florida showers kicked off at 12:50 p.m., halting the women’s match between Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider (up 3-0) and Cristina Bucsa and Miyu Kato. Play resumed at 5:30 p.m. after the courts were dried, only for rain to return minutes later. The women finally got back at 6:50 p.m., with Andreeva and Shnaider gutting out a 6-3, 6-7 (5), 10-2 win in a third-set tiebreaker.