By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday March 30, 2025
Jakub Mensik displayed the poise and power of a world-class champion on Sunday in Miami as he took down Novak Djokovic 7-6(4), 7-6(4) for his maiden Masters 1000 – and ATP! – title.
The 19-year-old Czech was money when it mattered most all week, as he won all seven tiebreaks he played and earned back-to-back Top 5 victories to claim the title but, as he told fans on Sunday night, he very nearly didn’t play in Miami at all.
From so nearly pulling out of the tournament……to winning it! 😱
What a story by @mensik_jakub_ #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/dKSEjG5Pzz
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 31, 2025
“Special thanks to Alejandro, one of the ATP physios,” Mensik told the crowd after his clutch win over the Grand Slam king. “One hour before my first match here, I was holding the paper of pulling out from the tournament because my knee was hurting a lot. I was just lucky then, that the referee was having lunch.
“For the last time I came for treatment. He did a miracle. Because of him I stepped on the court. And because of him I’m standing here.”
Mensik defeated Djokovic in two hours and five minutes to become the first player to win his maiden title at an ATP Masters event since 2001. He is the first Czech man to win a Masters since Tomas Berdych in 2005.
Mensik will rise to No.24 in the ATP rankings on Monday.
