Match ReactionSix-time Miami champion reflects on final against Mensik
March 31, 2025
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Novak Djokovic and Jakub Mensik share a special moment following Mensik’s win in the Miami final on Sunday. By ATP Staff
Novak Djokovic suffered a stinging loss Sunday evening in the Miami Open presented by Itau final to Jakub Mensik. It was a big opportunity for the Serbian to claim the 100th tour-level title of his career and record seventh trophy in Miami against a 19-year-old playing for his first ATP Tour title.
Entering the match, Djokovic had only lost four times to teen opponents. But despite the disappointment, the 37-year-old was graceful in defeat, shining the spotlight on Mensik.
“Congratulations to Mensik and his team. Never really happy to lose, but he’s one of the very few players that I would be happier to lose to, to be honest,” Djokovic said. “I have seen him play when he was 15 or 16 and invited him, we had some training blocks together. He was training at my club in Belgrade, and to see his development and evolution is really great, amazing.”
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Djokovic saw Mensik lose a three-set thriller in the 2022 Australian Open boys’ singles final to Bruno Kuzuhara. The Serbian was impressed by the teen’s fighting spirit and big game, and through his management reached out to Mensik’s team to arrange for the Czech to train with him.
“I could see back then already — three, four years ago — that he’s going to be one of the top players of the world,” Djokovic said. “I’m super glad that he’s using the potential that he has, because he’s got the complete game. Obviously his serve is incredible, powerful, precise, wins a lot of free points with the first serve.
“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.”
According to Djokovic, Mensik’s current physio used to work with him, so it is fitting they have spent time together during the Czech’s early years on the ATP Tour. Mensik has also repeatedly shared that Djokovic was and still is his idol.
This was their second Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting, having clashed in last year’s Shanghai quarter-finals. Djokovic also lost a first-set tie-break in that match, but was able to rally. On this occasion, Mensik was able to finish the job.
“I think he was serving even better than he was serving in Shanghai, and there he was serving really well,” Djokovic said. “I think game was similar, but my level was not like it was in Shanghai.”
It was a tricky day in Miami, with rain delaying the match’s scheduled start time by nearly six hours. It was also clear from early on that Djokovic was struggling with an issue underneath his right eye, consistently rubbing it and putting eye drops in during changeovers. The 99-time tour-level titlist did not go into details regarding the ailment and said he did not want to provide excuses.
“It is what it is. It’s same for both players. You have to accept the circumstances,” Djokovic said. “I tried to make the most out of what I had or what I was facing, but yeah, it was quite different from any other day of the tournament for me.”
The good news for Djokovic is that he is back on track after beginning the tournament with a 7-4 record for the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. Although still early in the season, the Serbian is up to fourth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. He did not lose a set until the final.
“Overall obviously now bitter taste because of the loss. But Miami, as I said on the court, really brought me a lot of joy and really good sensations on and off the court,” Djokovic said. “I was very welcomed very nicely by people and supported. Incredible again tonight, great support from the stadium in the match. They were pushing me on and trying to give me strength for a comeback. Very grateful. Just enjoyed my experience overall. It was [an] amazing run.
“Unfortunately ended with a loss in the final, but I played some really good tennis up to today.”
