Czech teenager Jakub Mensik delivered an unexpected performance by defeating his childhood idol, Novak Djokovic, in straight sets with scores of 7-6 (7/4) and 7-6 (7/4), both determined by tiebreaks, to secure victory at the Miami Open held at Hard Rock Stadium.
At just 19 years of age and currently ranked 54th in the world, Mensik achieved his inaugural title on the ATP Tour, simultaneously preventing Djokovic from attaining his 100th professional title, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Djokovic, aged 37, had aspirations of joining the ranks of Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) as the only male players in the Open Era to accumulate 100 or more career titles.
However, he was unable to match the teenager’s agility and innovative style of play.
The Sunday final was delayed by almost six hours due to heavy rain, and when the players emerged, it was clear that Djokovic had an eye infection.
Mensik started strongly, breaking Djokovic’s first-serve game to go 2-0 up.
The tall, big-serving Czech was dominating until, at 4-2, Djokovic broke back when Mensik found the net.
The set remained on serve from then on but in the tie-break, Mensik’s powerful serve, with two aces, put him in charge from the outset. He opened up a 5-0 lead and although Djokovic fought back, the youngster sealed the set with an overhead volley.
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It was the first set that Djokovic had lost in the entire tournament. The second set was a nip-and-tuck affair with neither player able to break. Once again, Mensik’s power proved decisive in the tie-break and when Djokovic went long on a return to hand him victory, he fell to his back.
The match between the 37-year-old Djokovic and Mensik was the biggest age gap in a Masters 1000 final and the biggest age gap of any tour level since 1976.
Mensik was playing his first ATP 1000 final. He was not quite two years old when Djokovic won his first Miami Open title in 2007.
Djokovic secured a victory over Mensik in straight sets during their match at the Shanghai Masters in October, marking their sole encounter on the court.
In an interview with the ATP Tour last year, Mensik expressed, “My inspiration in tennis is Novak Djokovic. It was his influence that led me to start playing tennis; he is my greatest idol.”
Throughout his illustrious career, Djokovic has participated in 307 ATP Tour-level tournaments, achieving victory in 99 of those events. Among the 76 Grand Slam tournaments he has contested, the Serbian player has set a men’s record by winning 24 titles.
