Three years in the past, Novak Djokovic acknowledged Jakub Mensik’s huge expertise. The legend introduced the younger gun to Belgrade, sharing helpful ideas and expertise with the upcoming teenager. On Sunday, these two met within the Masters 1000 ultimate!
Jakub and Novak have been the gamers to beat on the Miami Open, forging the title conflict with the largest age distinction within the Masters 1000 historical past! The apprentice ousted the grasp 7-6, 7-6 in two hours and three minutes for his first ATP title at 19!
The rain halted the motion for hours, and so they competed in difficult circumstances. Nevertheless, the 2 rivals pushed one another to the boundaries on a memorable Florida night time. Let’s discover out what led Jakub towards his career-best victory!
Jakub Mensik: “Mi inspiración tenística es Novak Djokovic. Gracias a él, empecé a jugar al tenis. Es mi mayor ídolo. No estaría aquí sin él”
Hoy le ganó a su ídolo en una ultimate de Masters 1000.
— Set Tenis (@settenisok) March 31, 2025
Because the outcome suggests, an adolescent and the veteran stayed neck and neck from begin to end. They break up 152 factors, successful 76 every! They served effectively and generated solely 4 break factors. Novak denied two of three and seized the one one he created on the return to remain in competition.
Nevertheless, the Serb missed his one centesimal ATP title after dropping floor in each tie breaks. The younger gun managed them and sealed the deal in straight units and write historical past books. Mensik made a dependable begin, which all the time helps, particularly within the first huge ultimate.
Djokovic erased the deficit and bounced again to achieve a tie break. The Czech saved his composure and solid a 5-0 benefit, bringing the set residence from there. Jakub served effectively within the second set, resisting the stress and sending it to the opposite facet.
Jakub Mensik, Miani Open 2025© Stream screenshot
The Serb denied two break factors within the fifth sport, which was the one scary second for servers. Thus, they embraced one other tie break and traded six mini-breaks within the first 9 factors. An adolescent clinched essential ones at 4-3 and seized the second match level to topple his idol and raise a trophy.
Jakub closed the primary sport of the encounter with a pressured error and stepped in on the return within the subsequent one. Novak missed a routine forehand and confronted two break factors. The six-time champion despatched one other forehand large on the primary, dropping serve and falling behind.
The 19-year-old fired winners at 30-30 within the third sport, cementing the break and settling right into a positive rhythm after 12 minutes. Djokovic closed the fourth sport with a forehand winner and diminished the hole. Nevertheless, he missed a backhand within the subsequent one and fell 4-1 behind.
Novak Djokovic, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot
The legend landed an ace within the sixth sport, holding at love and lowering the hole to 4-2. Jakub performed his solely unfastened service sport within the subsequent one. He sprayed a forehand error and netted a backhand to drop serve and produce Novak again to the constructive facet.
Djokovic claimed an prolonged rally within the eighth sport and locked the outcome at 4-4. The Czech moved 5-4 up with an ace, and the Serb responded with a maintain at love within the subsequent one for 5-5. The younger gun landed one other service winner in sport 11 for 6-5.
Novak closed the twelfth sport at like to introduce a tie break. Mensik claimed a mini-break within the second level with a fortunate internet twine and a behind-the-back volley winner. The veteran sprayed a forehand error within the third level and fell 3-0 behind.
Novak Djokovic, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Djokovic performed a unfastened mini-break within the fifth level and despatched his rival additional in entrance. Jakub attacked within the eighth level and laded a smash winner for 6-2 and 4 units factors. Novak saved the primary with a winner and diminished the hole to 6-4.
Mensik transformed the third set level with a smash winner, opening a 7-6 lead after 55 minutes and gaining confidence. The Czech closed the second sport of the second set with a forehand winner earlier than the Serb held at love within the subsequent one for a 2-1 benefit.
Jakub claimed the fourth sport with a service winner and stepped in on the return within the subsequent one. He hit a working winner on the internet for a break likelihood. Novak denied it with a service winner earlier than the younger gun cracked a backhand down the road winner for the second.
Jakub Mensik, Miani Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Djokovic saved it with a positive assault and held after the rival’s forehand error to stay on the constructive facet. An adolescent left these possibilities behind and fired a service winner in sport six for 3-3. The six-time winner secured the seventh sport with a strong serve and reached a deuce on the return within the subsequent one.
Ice chilly, Jakub fired two booming serves to convey the sport residence and lock the outcome at 4-4. The Serb landed a forehand winner in sport 9, producing a positive maintain and protecting the stress on the opposite facet. Mensik responded with a volley winner within the subsequent one and leveled them at 5-5.
Novak netted a slice within the eleventh sport and introduced his rival to a deuce. He held after an entertaining level and remained in competition. The Czech served to remain within the set for the second time and held at 15 to introduce the second tie break.
Novak Djokovic, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Djokovic missed backhands within the opening two factors earlier than inflicting the rival’s mistake to cut back the hole. Jakub claimed a grueling baseline rally within the fifth level following the rival’s unfastened forehand to open a 3-2 benefit.
Mensik hit a unfastened backhand at 2-4 and misplaced the benefit. Nevertheless, he offered one other mini-break within the eighth level when Djokovic netted a routine forehand. The veteran netted a backhand within the ninth level and fell 6-3 behind, providing his rival three match factors.
Novak erased the primary with a return winner. Nevertheless, Jakub transformed the second with a service winner, sealing the deal and lifting his first Masters 1000 trophy at 19.
