Jakub Mensik stole the spotlight in Miami as he brought Novak Djokovic’s chase for a century of ATP singles titles to a stunning halt. The Czech teenager pulled off a major upset, delivering a composed and fearless performance in the final to clinch not only his first Masters 1000 crown but also his debut ATP singles trophy — a career-defining breakthrough.
What made his triumph even more compelling was the revelation that the 19-year-old nearly didn’t step onto the court at all. Struggling with a troublesome knee in the lead-up to his opening match, Mensik was on the verge of withdrawing from the tournament altogether.
“Big special thanks to one of the ATP physios, Alejandro. One hour before my first match here I was holding the paper to pull out from the tournament because my knee was hurting a lot,” Mensik shared during the trophy ceremony. “I was just lucky that the referee was having lunch. Then for the last time I came for the treatment. He did a miracle. Because of him I stepped on the court. Because of him I’m standing here.”
That last-minute decision not to pull out proved pivotal, setting the stage for an electrifying run in Florida. From the very first round, the unseeded teenager showed grit and poise, dispatching veteran Roberto Bautista Agut. He then stunned sixth seed and Indian Wells champion Jack Draper before grinding past Roman Safiullin. A walkover in the Round of 16 — courtesy of Tomas Machac’s withdrawal — gave him a breather, but the Czech came roaring back to knock out 17th seed Arthur Fils in the quarters and then edged out Taylor Fritz, the fourth seed, to secure his spot in the final.
Yet, the biggest shock came when Mensik held his nerve against Djokovic in two nail-biting tie-breaks, sealing the contest 7-6(4), 7-6(4). It was a clinical display from a player ranked 54th in the world, one that left the tennis world in awe and Djokovic stuck on 99 ATP titles — a number he’s remained at since defeating Carlos Alcaraz at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Mensik’s fearless finish earned him a place in tennis history. He became only the second player ranked outside the ATP top 50 to defeat Djokovic in a final — the first being Stan Wawrinka, who, ranked No. 69 at the time, beat Djokovic in the 2006 Umag final. That makes Mensik’s feat not just rare, but extraordinary — an achievement seasoned pros can only dream of.
Now ranked a career-best No. 24, Mensik didn’t shy away from sharing what the moment meant to him — especially considering who stood on the other side of the net. “When I was young I started to play tennis because of you,” he said, turning to Djokovic during the presentation. “There is no harder task in tennis than to beat him in the finals. But of course I felt really great and it’s my time, so I just tried to focus on the match like I did before in previous rounds.”
In a sport where veterans often dominate the biggest stages, Mensik’s win serves as a reminder that new stars are always waiting to rise. In fact, he joins an elite and exclusive group of players who lifted their first ATP singles title at the prestigious Masters 1000 level. Before him, only three had managed that: Roberto Carretero in Hamburg (1996), Chris Woodruff in Montreal (1997), and Alberto Portas again in Hamburg (2001). With his victory in Miami, Mensik completes this rare quartet — a small but historic fraternity.
What began as a tournament on the brink of a medical withdrawal turned into a fairytale for the young Czech. With every round, he built momentum. By the time he walked out for the final, the injury, nerves, and odds all faded into the background. What remained was a fearless fighter, brimming with belief, who took down a titan and etched his name into tennis folklore.