Champion in Miami! Mensik can against forecasts, rain and djokovic | ATP Tour

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Champion in Miami! Mesik can with forecasts, rain and djokovic

The Czech leaves Serbio without his title No. 100 in the ATP Tour

March 31, 2025

Only two players in this century have reached the feat of winning their first title at the ATP Tour in a 1000 ATP Masters: the Spanish Albert Portas in Hamburg 2001 and the Czech Jakub Mensik in Miami 2025. The small list has enlarged this Sunday with the unexpected triumph of the 19-year-old right-handed over Novak Djokovic with partials of 7-6 (4) 7-6 (4).

And he is unexpected for the context: the Serbian, who was looking for his title No. 100 in the ATP Tour and a record figure of seven crowns in the Miami Open presented By Itau, led 1-0 the Lexus ATP Headtohead between them and reached his duel this Sunday with 6-1 record at the end of the tournament. Only Andy Murray, sitting in the box as his coach, had been able to beat ‘Nole’ in this tournament round (2009).

In addition, Mesik had never played a final other than that of an ATP 250 (it was runner -up in Doha 2024). He could have suffered the nerves of the circumstance and so much wait, because the duel began six hours after planned due to Sunday’s rain in Miami. However, No. 54 of the PIF ATP Rankings had few signals of inexperience to a legend of our sport.

“It was not the first time I played against Novak,” said Mensik, who lost to Djokovic last year in Shanghai’s quarterfinals. “There is no more difficult task in tennis to overcome it in a final. But, of course, I felt great. It was my time, so I tried to concentrate on the game as I did in previous rounds.”

Although he let a 4-1 advantage in the first set, he stayed approved and waited for his chance. This arrived at the tiebreaker that was taken to advance on the scoreboard at 55 minutes against his childhood idol.

When one of the best points arrives in Set Point is celebrated like this 😤

⚡️ @mensik_jakub_ ⚡️ @MiamiOpen ⚡️pic.twitter.com/laccY4IwZ6

– ATP Tour en Español (@atppour_es) March 31, 2025

Patience also accompanied him in the second partial. Although it wasted a 15/40 advantage in the 2-2, he continued stable with his serve and reached the Tie-Break once more better standing than 99 times ATP Tour champion. Shortly after two hours of the game, he sealed his victory No. 42 in the circuit, which is worth to consecrate champion for the first time.

“To be honest, I don’t know what to say. I feel incredible, obviously,” Mesik said in his interview on the court. “It is probably the most important day of my life and I have done it wonderfully, something that I am very happy. I could show my performance and I did not feel nervous before the game. I feel super happy and I think the emotions will arrive later.”

The Czech, in addition, ended the tournament as Leader of ACES (111) and undefeated in unpacking. He won the seven he played during a fortnight in which he also eliminated players like Jack Draper – a champion two weeks ago in Indian Wells -, Arthur Fils and Taylor Fritz.

“The first title of many,” Mesik signed in the camera after the victory, which makes him the second youngest champion in the history of the tournament. Only surpassed by Carlos Alcaraz, then 18 in 2022.

With this result, Mesik becomes the champion with the worst ranking in the history of the tournament, as well as in the first Czech to win this event since the Masters 1000 category was born in 1990 (Ivan Lendl conquered the tournament in 1989). This will allow you to ascend Monday to the No. 24 of the PIF ATP Rankings, the top of your career.

“This is the moment of Jakub, the moment of his team, the moment of his family. Congratulations, an incredible tournament!” Djokovic said. “It hurts to admit it, but you were better! In the decisive moments, you delivered the maximum with an incredible serve and a phenomenal mental effort to stand firm at a difficult time.”