Jakub Mensik causes one of many largest upsets of 2025, defeating former world primary Novak Djokovic in Florida.
Czech teenager Jakub Mensik upset childhood idol Novak Djokovic in straight units, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/4), each determined by tiebreaks, to win the Miami Open at Arduous Rock Stadium.
The 19-year-old, ranked 54th on the planet, claimed his first title on the ATP Tour and denied Djokovic his one centesimal skilled title.
Djokovic, 37, had hoped to hitch Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) as the one males within the Open Period with 100 or extra profession titles however couldn’t match {the teenager}’s velocity and artistic play.
The Sunday ultimate was delayed by virtually six hours as a result of heavy rain, and when the gamers emerged, it was clear that Djokovic had a watch an infection.
Mensik began strongly, breaking Djokovic’s first-serve recreation to go 2-0 up. The tall, big-serving Czech was dominating till, at 4-2, Djokovic broke again when Mensik discovered the web.
The set remained on serve from then on however within the tie-break, Mensik’s highly effective serve, with two aces, put him in cost from the outset. He opened up a 5-0 lead and though Djokovic fought again, the teenager sealed the set with an overhead volley.
It was the primary set that Djokovic had misplaced in the whole match.
The second set was a nip-and-tuck affair with neither participant in a position to break.
As soon as once more, Mensik’s energy proved decisive within the tie-break and when Djokovic went lengthy on a return at hand him victory, he fell to his again.
One for the ages
The match between the 37-year-old Djokovic and Mensik was the most important age hole distinction in a Masters 1000 ultimate and the most important age hole of any tour stage since 1976. Mensik was enjoying his first ATP 1000 ultimate. He was not fairly two years outdated when Djokovic received his first Miami Open title in 2007.
Djokovic had crushed Mensik in straight units on the Shanghai Masters in October, the one time they’ve met on courtroom.
“My tennis inspiration is Novak Djokovic. Due to him, I began to play tennis. He’s my largest idol,” Mensik advised ATP Tour in an interview final yr.
Djokovic has performed 307 ATP Tour-level tournaments in his storied profession and triumphed in 99 of them. Of the 76 Grand Slams he has entered, the Serbian has received a males’s document 24.
