2 weeks Ago
Czech teenager Jakub Mensik upset Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/4) to win the Miami Open, denying the Serb his 100th career title. Jakub Mensik called beating his childhood idol Novak Djokovic as the ‘biggest day of his life’. The 19-year-old Czech beat his Serbian GOAT 7-6(4) 7-6(4) in an upset for the ages on Sunday, claiming his first ATP title at the Miami Open as he denied the former number one his bid for a milestone 100th.
The 54th-ranked Mensik faced tough odds in only his second ATP final but harnessed his best weapon to subdue the 24-times major winner with 14 aces and collapsed onto the court, overcome with emotion, after sealing it with an unreturnable serve. The oldest ever to reach a Masters 1000 final, 37-year-old Djokovic had hoped to join Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) as the only three men in the Open Era with 100 or more titles but ran out of steam in the end. ALSO READ | Jakub Mensik Beats Novak Djokovic To Win Miami Open And Deny His ‘Childhood Hero’ 100th Title “To be honest I don’t know what to say.
It feels incredible, obviously," Mensik 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 and I think that the feelings will come later," he said.
Mensik has made no secret of the fact that he grew up with Djokovic his idol and after receiving the trophy he said that he started his career in the hope of emulating the Serb. “There is no harder task for a tennis player than to beat you in the final of a tournament," he said. “I am pretty sure that this was just the first of many," Mensik added, before revealing that he had been close to pulling out of the tournament before his first match due to a knee injury before last minute physiotherapy produced the desired results.
Djokovic, who after the match declined to discuss the problem with his eye, paid tribute to the Czech’s display. “This is Jakub’s moment, a moment of his team, a moment of his family. Congratulations, unbelievable tournament.
It hurts me to admit it, but you were better. In a clutch moment, you delivered the goods," he said. “Unbelievable serving and just a phenomenal effort mentally as well to stay tough in a difficult moment.
For a young player like yourself, this is a great feature. Something that I’m sure you will use many times in the years to follow," Djokovic added. The match between the 37-year-old Djokovic and Mensik was the biggest age gap difference in a Masters 1000 final and the biggest age gap of any tour-level final since 1976.
(With inputs from Agencies).
