MIAMI/WASHINGTON, March 31, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
Jakub Mensik overcame Mother Nature – a nearly six-hour rain delay that turned a mid-afternoon final into a late-night drama under the lights – and Father Time in the name of 37-year-old Novak Djokovic to garner his first ATP Tour title by winning the Miami Open presented by Itau Sunday night at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Certainly, winning his first tour-level title – not to mention his first ATP Masters 1000 crown – is something that won’t be lost on the 54th-ranked Mensik, who defeated the Serbian great and 25-time major champion, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4), in two hours and three minutes. It prevented the World No. 5 Djokovic – and the 19-year-old Mensik’s idol – from claiming his 100th career ATP Tour title and seven Miami Open crown.
When the feeling is simply beyond words…@MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/MYzRHhFZ7P
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 31, 2025
The #NextGenATP Mensik, 6-foot-4, 184-pound native of Prostejov who turned pro in 2002, became the second-youngest Miami Open titlist in tournament history behind Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, who won the 2022 title as an 18-year-old. Mensik played the match of his life, winning two tough tiebreakers against Djokovic and by combining power with precision. It’s the same winning combination that also helped him beat Top 10 stars Jack Draper of Great Britain and Taylor Fritz of the United States en route to the title.
Mensik struck 29 winners – including 14 aces – to 22 unforced errors and won 77 percent of his first-serve points. He also captured 50 percent of his second-serve return points off Djokovic’s serve. By comparison, Djokovic hit 22 winners and made 2o unforced errors. Total points were even at 76 each.
“To be honest I don’t know what to say. It feels incredible, obviously,” Mensik said shortly after the biggest triumph of his career, during an on-court interview with ATP Media. “It was probably the biggest day of my life and I did super, which I’m really glad [about], to show the performance and keep the nerves outside of the court before the match. I feel just super happy and I think that the feelings will come later.”
His time is NOW!
Mensik claims his first EVER ATP Tour title. pic.twitter.com/13TJD7HFYU
— Miami Open (@MiamiOpen) March 31, 2025
Just two years ago, Mensik was ranked World No. 390. Now, with his title victory secured, Mensik will climb in the PIF ATP Rankings to a career-high No. 24 on Monday and become the No. 2 Czech behind No. 21 Tomas Machac and ahead of No. 3 Czech Jiri Lehecka, ranked 29th.
With his victory Sunday night, Mensik became the fourth first-time ATP Tour champion this year, joining Alexandre Muller (Hong Kong), Joao Fonseca (Buenos Aires) and Machac (Acapulco). He also became the first player from Czechia to win an ATP Masters 1000 event since Tomas Berdych won the Paris Masters in 2005.
“This is Jakub’s moment — moment of his team, moment of his family. Congratulations, unbelievable tournament,” Djokovic said during the trophy ceremony. “It hurts me to admit it, but you were better! In the clutch moments, you delivered the goods [with] unbelievable serving and just a phenomenal effort mentally as well to stay tough in a difficult moment.”
Perhaps, as a sign of good things to come, as Mensik wrote on the camera lens moments after securing championship point at 10:50 p.m. Miami time, “#1st of many.”
GAME. SET. MENSIK.
Sensational @mensik_jakub_ defeats Djokovic 7-6(4) 7-6(4) to capture his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title!!!@MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/OQz7PdFG3p
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 31, 2025
Around the Miami Open
Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider won the rain-delayed women’s doubles final Sunday evening. The Russian pair defeated Cristina Bucsa of Spain and Miyu Kato of Japan, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 10-2, in an hour and 36 minutes. It was the second and highest-level WTA doubles title for both Andreeva and Shnaider, who teamed up to win the WTA 500 at Brisbane in January.
By the numbers
With an 18-year age gap between Novak Djokovic (37) and Jakub Mensik (19), it marked the biggest age difference in an ATP Masters 1000 final in series history and the biggest age gap of any tour-level final since Ken Rosewall, 41, defeated Raul Ramirez, 22, in 1976 at the Jackson WCT final.
“Quotable …”
“It was not the first time I’ve played against Novak. 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.”
– Jakub Mensik of Czechia, during his on-court interview with ATP Media, after winning his first ATP Tour-level title and first ATP Masters 1000 crown.
