In one of the biggest upsets in recent tennis history, 19-year-old Czech prodigy Jakub Mensik claimed his first-ever ATP 1000 title by defeating legendary Serbian Novak Djokovic in the 2025 Miami Open Men’s Singles final.
Mensik, ranked 54th in the world, showcased remarkable composure and skill to secure a straight-sets victory, 7-6, 7-6, denying Djokovic his 100th career ATP title. The win not only marked a historic milestone for Mensik but also ended Djokovic’s title drought, which had persisted since his triumph at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Djokovic, who was on the brink of becoming just the third male player in history to reach 100 singles titles after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer, entered the Miami final as the heavy favourite. However, the young Czech’s fearless performance defied expectations, leaving the tennis world in awe.
Who Is Jakub Mensik?
Born on September 1, 2005, Mensik emerged on the global tennis scene after a series of impressive performances. He first gained attention with a runner-up finish in the 2022 Australian Open Junior final, despite battling muscle cramps in a grueling three-set match.
In 2023, Mensik clinched his first ATP Challenger title at the Sparta Prague Open, becoming the youngest Czech player to win an ATP title, following in the footsteps of Thomas Berdych. His breakout moment came at the 2023 US Open, where he reached the third round, becoming the youngest male singles player to achieve that feat since Rafael Nadal in 2004.
Mensik’s momentum continued with a stellar run to the final at the 2024 Qatar Open, defeating tennis icons like Andy Murray and Andrey Rublev before falling to Karen Khachanov. This performance propelled him into the ATP top 100, and he later broke into the top 50 after a quarterfinal finish at the Shanghai Masters.
Tribute to Djokovic
What made his Miami Open victory even more special was the fact that Djokovic has been Mensik’s childhood idol. After the match, an emotional Mensik paid tribute to the Serbian legend, saying, “Novak, everyone knows you’re the one… the reason I’m here. I watched you growing up. I started to play tennis because of you. There is not a harder task for a tennis player than to beat you in the final of a tournament. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done in this sport and for everyone. You’re an incredible person. The greatest of all time.”
With this win, Mensik not only secured his first ATP 1000 title but also rose to a career-high ranking of 24, signaling the arrival of a new star in the world of tennis.