Jakub Menšík defeats Novak Djokovic to claim first ATP title at Miami Open
Czech teenager Jakub Menšík has claimed his first ATP Masters 1000 title at the Miami Open, defeating Novak Djokovic 7-6, 7-6 in the final. The win not only dashed Djokovic’s hopes of securing his 100th career title but also marked a major milestone for the 19-year-old, who became the second-youngest player in tournament history to lift the Miami trophy.
The match between Menšík and Djokovic was delayed by nearly six hours of rain in Florida, providing Mensík with plenty of time to mentally prepare for the challenge ahead: preventing Djokovic from securing his historic 100th career title.
Despite the extended delay and the mounting pressure, Menšík remained focused and composed, delivering a standout performance to claim his first Masters 1000 title.
In his winner’s speech, Menšík expressed deep admiration for Djokovic, who had invited him to practice after the 2022 Australian Open when Menšík was still a junior.
“Novak, everyone knows you’re 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.”
This victory marks the culmination of Menšík's rapid rise. He reached the Qatar Open final in February 2024 and broke into the ATP Top 100 shortly after. Along the way, Menšík defeated three top-10 players, including Djokovic, Britain’s Jack Draper, and American Taylor Fritz. With this win, Menšík has become the first Czech to claim a Masters 1000 title since Tomáš Berdych's triumph in Paris in 2005.
Perhaps even more impressive was the fact that Menšík nearly withdrew from the tournament before it even began, due to a knee injury, as he revealed in his speech:
“Big special thanks to one of the ATP physios, Alejandro. One hour before my first match here I was ready to pull out from the tournament because my knee was hurting a lot. I was just lucky that the referee was having lunch. Then for the last time I went for treatment. He did a miracle. Because of him I stepped on the court. Because of him I’m standing here.”
Menšík also expressed his gratitude to his team, fans, and parents for their unwavering support throughout the tournament.
After the match, Djokovic, who had been aiming for his 100th ATP title, graciously congratulated Menšík, acknowledging his superior performance:
“It hurts me to admit it, but you were better. I wish you the best of luck. Maybe you'll let me win one of the next times we play.”
With this victory, Menšík will rise to a career-high No. 24 in the ATP rankings, passing Czech compatriot Jiří Lehečka. After the match, he wrote on the TV camera, “The first of many.” Judging by his incredible performance and determination, it seems likely this will indeed be the first of many titles for the rising Czech star.
