19-year-old Czech upstart topples his childhood idol in straight sets to win first ATP title and delay Djokovic’s quest for his 100th career trophy.
Miami, March 31: In a jaw-dropping finale at the Hard Rock Stadium, 19-year-old Czech prodigy Jakub Mensik stunned tennis legend Novak Djokovic in straight sets—7-6(4), 7-6(4)—to win the 2025 Miami Open, securing the biggest victory of his young career and claiming his first-ever ATP title.
The victory denied the 37-year-old Djokovic his much-anticipated 100th career title, keeping him just shy of joining the elite club of Open Era greats—Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103)—with a century of titles.
The Sunday final was delayed nearly six hours due to heavy rains, and when the players finally stepped onto the court, Djokovic appeared to be struggling with an eye infection—yet it was Mensik’s fearless performance that truly stole the show.
A Star is Born
Mensik, ranked World No. 54, broke Djokovic’s serve early to take a 2-0 lead in the opening set. Though Djokovic broke back to level the score, Mensik dominated the tiebreak with powerful serves—including two aces—and crisp net play, seizing the first set. It marked the first set Djokovic had dropped in the tournament.
The second set remained tight with neither player managing a break. Once again, Mensik’s composure in the tiebreak proved decisive. After Djokovic sent a return long on match point, the Czech teenager collapsed to the court, overcome with emotion.
David vs Goliath
This historic clash marked the biggest age gap ever in a Masters 1000 final and the widest gap in any ATP-level final since 1976. Mensik was not even two years old when Djokovic lifted his first Miami Open title in 2007.
The pair had previously met only once—at the Shanghai Masters last October—where Djokovic had claimed a routine win. But this time, the narrative flipped.
“My tennis inspiration is Novak Djokovic. Because of him, I started to play tennis. He’s my biggest idol,” Mensik shared in an ATP interview last year—a sentiment that made his triumph even more poetic.
The Legacy Continues
For Djokovic, the loss is a minor setback in an otherwise legendary career. With 99 ATP titles, 24 Grand Slam titles, and over 300 tournaments under his belt, the Serbian remains one of the sport’s all-time greats.
But for Jakub Mensik, this win may be just the beginning.
As Djokovic now regroups in his pursuit of title No. 100, the tennis world is abuzz with the emergence of a new contender—one who just toppled a titan.