Jakub Mensik has etched his name into tennis history with a remarkable victory over Taylor Fritz, securing a spot in the 2025 Miami Open final. With this victory, the young Czech joins a prestigious list of tennis legends, marking an incredible achievement in his burgeoning career.
Mensik’s win came in dramatic fashion, as he triumphed 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(4) in a tense and tightly contested semi-final at the Hard Rock Stadium. Spanning over two hours and 24 minutes, the match was an intense battle of serves, with both players delivering powerful performances. Fritz managed to break Mensik’s serve in the second set, but it was the 19-year-old’s ability to clinch the crucial tiebreaks in the first and third sets that proved to be the deciding factor.
Throughout the match, Mensik was in devastating form on serve, landing an impressive 72% of his first serves and firing off 25 aces. His serve proved to be a key weapon, as he won 82% of points behind his first delivery and 54% on his second, highlighting his exceptional serving skills.
This win marks a significant milestone for Mensik, who is now just one match away from capturing his first ATP title. It also marks his second career final, and his first at the prestigious ATP Masters 1000 level. Having started the Miami Open ranked No 54 in the world, the Czech has risen 24 spots to No 30 in the ATP Live Rankings, a testament to the 640 points he’s earned during this run.
By reaching the final, Mensik becomes just the fifth teenager in the last two decades to make it to the Miami Open men’s singles final, joining an elite group of players that includes Rafael Nadal (2005), Novak Djokovic (2007), Jannik Sinner (2021), and Carlos Alcaraz (2022). This achievement places him in some very illustrious company.
Moreover, Mensik has become the fourth teenager in the history of the ATP Masters 1000 events, since the format’s inception in 1990, to score multiple wins against top 10 opponents. Nadal, Alcaraz, and Holger Rune are the only other players to have achieved this feat, further cementing Mensik’s rising status in the sport.
Looking ahead to the final, Mensik will face none other than the 24-time Grand Slam champion, Novak Djokovic, who is on the hunt for his seventh Miami title and a record-extending 41st Masters 1000 trophy. Djokovic, who is also chasing his 100th ATP Tour singles title, will be a formidable opponent, but Mensik is undeterred.
Their only previous meeting came at the 2024 Shanghai Masters, where Djokovic won in three sets, but Mensik is confident that this time he will be better prepared. “I’m actually a different player (compared to the match in Shanghai),” Mensik reflected. “I was kind of nervous. I’m not saying that I would not be on Sunday, but I wasn’t able to hold my nerves very well in that match. I’ve just grown up a little mentally.”
Mensik is brimming with confidence as he looks ahead to the final. “Playing right now, I feel that the conditions and everything here suits me very well. I feel really comfortable on the court. So, I’m going there on Sunday to win. No doubt on that,” he said, signaling his determination.
In a historic twist, the final will feature an age gap of 18 years and 102 days between the 19-year-old Mensik and the 38-year-old Djokovic, marking the largest-ever age difference in a Masters 1000 final. This generational clash promises to be a thrilling encounter, with Mensik looking to make his mark against one of the sport’s all-time greats.