Novak Djokovic may have walked away from the Miami Open final without the trophy, but his praise for Jakub Mensik echoed louder than any disappointment. Despite being the clear favourite on paper—having reached his 60th ATP Masters 1000 final and chasing a monumental 100th ATP singles title—the Serbian superstar was gracious in defeat, choosing instead to spotlight the brilliance and promise of the teenager who bested him in two razor-thin tie-break sets.
The final, impacted by relentless rain that caused a six-hour delay, played out in stop-start fashion, adding an extra layer of unpredictability. When the action finally resumed, it was Mensik who thrived in the high-stakes moments, clinching the contest 7-6(4), 7-6(4). Though Djokovic admitted he “didn’t feel the greatest on the court,” he made no attempt to downplay the magnitude of Mensik’s performance.
“It’s unfortunate for me. Two tie-breaks, just very weird match, weird day with rain delay and all the things that is happening,” Djokovic remarked post-match. “Honestly, yeah, I didn’t feel my greatest on the court, but it is what it is. Nothing to take away from his victory.”
While the conditions may have disrupted Djokovic’s rhythm, they didn’t prevent him from reflecting on Mensik’s rise with genuine pride. The Czech teenager, who began the tournament ranked 54th in the world, now finds himself knocking on the door of the top 20, climbing to a career-high No. 24. The Serb wasn’t just generous in his compliments—he spoke with the kind of belief reserved for someone he’s had his eye on for years.
“Never really happy to lose, but he’s one of the very few players that I would be happier to lose to, to be honest,” said Djokovic, now a 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Their history stretches back several years. Djokovic first noticed Mensik’s spark when the youngster was just 15 or 16. The Serbian great invited him to train at his academy in Belgrade—a gesture not extended lightly. Recalling those early days, Djokovic said, “I have seen him play when he was 15 or 16 and invited him, we had some training blocks together. He was training at my club in Belgrade, and, you know, to see his development and evolution is really great, amazing.”
The growth Djokovic has seen in Mensik’s game over the past few years is something he spoke about with admiration. “I could see back then already that three, four years ago that he’s going to be, you know, one of the top players of the world,” he said. “I’m super glad that he’s using the potential that he has, because he’s got the complete game.”
Djokovic dissected Mensik’s strengths with a mix of technical insight and subtle awe. From his rocket of a first serve—”powerful, precise, wins a lot of free points”—to his solid Czech-style backhand, Djokovic noted the young gun’s all-court capability. “Backhand, as well, you know. Czech school, they always have a great backhand (smiling). But forehand, he’s improved a lot. And movement for a tall, big guy like that, he slides and moves well,” he said.
While the physical tools are impressive, Djokovic emphasized that there’s more to Mensik than stats and shot-making. His attitude, resilience, and maturity were what initially caught Djokovic’s attention during the 2022 Australian Open Boys’ final, even though Mensik didn’t win that day.
“I loved the fighting spirit, you know, when he was down in that finals I saw in Australia, and obviously big game,” Djokovic recalled.
That match became the catalyst for a deeper connection. Djokovic initiated contact through his team, reaching out to Mensik’s camp to propose a training partnership. The Czech teen agreed, and before long, they were sharing courts and training sessions in Serbia. “I gave a call through management, my management, his management, and we found, yeah, a connection. He accepted to come,” Djokovic said.
Over time, the bond between the two players deepened. Their training wasn’t just about rallying and refining strokes; it was about mentorship. Djokovic’s former physio, now part of Mensik’s support team, adds another thread tying their journeys together. “We had, like, three training blocks together. And actually, his physio who is with him now was my physio, Serbian guy. There are a lot of connecting things that we have in common,” he shared.
From the way Djokovic speaks, it’s clear he sees a reflection of himself in the driven young competitor. “So as I said, you know, big game, big potential. I’m sure that he’s got a bright future.”
Though the result in Miami wasn’t what Djokovic aimed for, his role in Mensik’s story feels like a win of a different kind—one that transcends rankings or records. It’s a passing of wisdom, a moment of legacy-building, and a sign that the future of tennis is in capable hands.