Novak Djokovic loses to unseeded teen Jakub Mensik in rain-delayed Miami Open final
Jakub Mensik, a 19-year-old unseeded Czech who was not even born when Novak Djokovic began his professional tennis career, stole the spotlight and a milestone victory from his idol in a rain-delayed Miami Open final Sunday night.
Heavy rain drenched Hard Rock Stadium Sunday, delaying by nearly six hours the start of the match between Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, and Mensik, the 54th-ranked newcomer.
Despite the gloomy conditions, 14,000 fans stuck around for a show that had a surprise ending.
Djokovic was on the cusp of history, going for a record seventh title in Miami and his 100th title overall, trailing only Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103). Mensik was going for his maiden title.
The big-serving teenager showed poise that belied his youth and beat Djokovic 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4). He fell to the ground in disbelief after the match, and then wrote “First of Many” on the camera lens.
He became the second-youngest Miami champion in the tournament’s 40-year history, behind Carlos Alcaraz, who was 18 when he won in 2022.
“I feel incredible,” said Mensik, who won more than $1.1 million for his victory. “For a tennis player there is no greater task than beating [Djokovic] in a final. I grew up watching him. He was my idol.”
Djokovic was gracious in defeat.
“This is Jakub’s moment,” Djokovic said during the trophy ceremony. “He played an unbelievable tournament, the first of many, I am sure. It hurts me to admit it, but you were better than me in the clutch moments. You delivered the goods, unbelievable serving and a phenomenal effort mentally, as well. To stay tough in a difficult moment for a young player, this is a great feature, something I’m sure you will use many, many, many times in the years to follow.”
Djokovic seemed bothered by a stye in his right eye, put drops in the eye, and slipped three times during the match, but refused to offer excuses for his loss.
“It’s unfortunate for me, two tiebreaks, just very weird match, weird day with rain delay and all the things that are happening,” he said. “Honestly, I didn’t feel my greatest on the court, but it is what it is. Nothing to take away from his victory. I don’t want to get into details...You have to accept the circumstances. I tried to make the most out of what I had or what I was facing, but yeah, it was quite different from any other day of the tournament for me.”
He took a moment during the trophy ceremony to address the Miami fans, who have seen him evolve from a teenage champion himself in Key Biscayne to one of the sport’s legends. A tournament record 405,448 fans attended the tournament this year, and whenever Djokovic played, he got a lot of love.
“You guys have brought so much joy to me in the last couple of weeks,” he said. “I’ve been struggling to find the level of tennis and enjoyment, but here, without a doubt, I enjoyed the most that I have enjoyed in the last couple of years in any tournament.
“It’s been six years that I haven’t played in Miami, and I had some incredible memories here. The passion, enthusiasm, the love for tennis from the fans here in Miami is really unmatched. You guys are amazing for staying, not just today, for several days of rain delays. Love you guys, and hope I can see you once again.”
The crowd welcomed him with a loud ovation and cheered him on numerous times during the match.
Exciting young players such as Joao Fonseca of Brazil and Alex Eala of the Philippines electrified crowds over the past 10 days, but Djokovic is Djokovic.
With Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams retired and Andy Murray now on Djokovic’s coaching team, the Serbian great is the last remaining legend on tour and the sport’s elder statesman.
The age gap between 37-year-old Djokovic and Mensik was the widest at any tour final since 41-year-old Ken Rosewall beat 22-year-old Raul Ramirez at the 1976 Jackson WCT final.
Djokovic and Mensik had played once before, at the Shanghai Open in October 2024, and Djokovic rallied to win 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, 6-4.
Mensik, who was ranked No. 54 coming into the Miami Open, vowed that this meeting would be different.
And it was.
“I had a lot of nerves in Shanghai thinking about, `Oh my god, I’m playing against Novak, my idol, blah, blah, blah,’’’ Mensik said after Sunday’s victory. “I didn’t have the mentality to win it, just to enjoy it. Now, I’m a different player.”
Djokovic entered this tournament aiming to get back on track after three consecutive losses, his worst stretch since 2018. He was coming off a shocking 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 loss to 85th-ranked Botic Van De Zandschulp in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California.
“I really wanted to find the best game that I can play from myself in this tournament, which I did, and putting myself in a great position to win the title,” Djokovic said. “I wanted to make a statement to myself and to others, as well, that I’m still able to play on a high level.”
Entering Sunday’s final, Djokovic had not dropped a single set during the entire tournament. He performed well in all facets of his game, but his serve had been particularly impressive. His first percentage was 83 percent in his quarterfinal win against Sebastian Korda and 87 percent in the semifinal against Grigor Dmitrov.
But on Sunday night on Stadium Court, he could not overcome the teenager he once mentored.
“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,” 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 to see his development and evolution is really great, amazing.
“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. I’m super glad that he’s using the potential that he has, because he’s got the complete game.”
Mensik said he almost withdrew from the Miami Open two days before his first match. He had knee inflammation, and could not even run on the treadmill. He had the withdrawal paper in his hand and was headed to the referee’s office, but the referee was out to lunch. So, Mensik went to the physio’s office one more time, received treatment, and it started to feel better.
“I’m lucky he was out to lunch,” Mensik said, smiling. “Somehow, I won my first match, had a day off, my knee started feeling better, and also my game. It’s a crazy story, so this feels even more incredible.”
Andreeva-Shnaider Win Women’s Doubles
The women’s doubles final between Russians Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider and Cristina Bucsa (Spain) and Miyu Kato (Japan) was suspended by the rain at 12:50 p.m. on Sunday with the Russian duo ahead 3-0. The match resumed six hours later, and Andreeva-Shnaider won the title 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 10-2. They earned $457,150 as the winning team.
Andreeva, who is ranked No. 6 in singles, and Shnaider, ranked No. 13, paired up at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where they took the silver medal after falling to the Italian duo of Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini. They decided to keep the partnership going on tour this season.
Kato and Bucsa were Miami Open surprise finalists having beaten the third seeds Paolini/Errani and the top seeds Katerina Siniakova/Taylor Townsend.
This story was originally published March 30, 2025 at 5:51 PM.