Mar 31, 2025

Menšík Stuns Djokovic to Win First ATP Tour Title in Miami

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Jakub Menšík will never forget how he won his first ATP Tour title.

Czech teenager Tomáš Menšík defeated Novak Djokovic 7-6, 7-6 to win the Miami Open presented by Itau title on Sunday.

The 19-year-old became the second-youngest titlist in tournament history behind Carlos Alcaraz, who lifted the trophy in 2022 as an 18-year-old.

“To be honest, I don’t know what to say. It feels incredible, obviously,” Menšík said in his on-court interview.

“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,y and I think that the feelings will come later.”

The defeat leaves Djokovic, who appeared to struggle with an issue underneath his right eye, without a title on tour since the ATP Finals in 2023. His only success in 2024 came at the Olympics.

“There is no harder task in tennis than to beat him in the finals,” said Menšík, who lost his only previous meeting with Djokovic in Shanghai. “You’re the one I idolised when I was young. I started playing tennis because of you.

Djokovic admitted his opponent – 18 years his junior – was better and congratulated him on an “unbelievable tournament”.

“This is Jakub’s moment – moment of his team, moment of his family. Congratulations, unbelievable tournament,” Djokovic said.

“It hurts me to admit it but you were better! In the clutch moments, you delivered the goods. Unbelievable serving and just a phenomenal effort mentally, to stay tough in a difficult moment.”

“His serve is incredible, powerful, precise and he wins a lot of free points with the first serve,” 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic added.

“Backhand as well. Czech school, they always have a great backhand. But forehand, he’s improved a lot. And movement for a tall, big guy like that, he slides and moves well.

“He still can improve, of course, so I’m sure we’ll be seeing him around.

 

The victory also made him the first Czech player to win an ATP Masters 1000 event since Tomáš Berdych in 2005.

The Czech teenager revealed he had nearly pulled out of the tournament due to inflammation in his right knee.

Shortly before his opener against Roberto Bautista Agut, the 19-year-old was on his way to the referee’s room to announce his withdrawal but found that the official was out for lunch, and he visited the physio’s room instead.

“It was just a big inflammation. I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t run,” Mensik told reporters. “I started to treat it, started to take painkillers. Nothing was helping. During matchday it was the same… I tried to step on the treadmill. I couldn’t move. I was like, ‘Okay, well, that’s it. I’m pulling out’.

 

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