In an incredible upset at the Miami Open, unseeded 18-year-old Jakub Menšík defeated 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic to claim the title. This upset meant that Djokovic couldn’t win his much sought after 100th career title. The game played out under extremely high-pressure circumstances. Menšík prevailed in both decidedly close tie-breaks, further cementing what has already been a breakthrough young career for him.
Going into the tournament, Djokovic was No. 24 in the world. He has been sitting on 99 titles since 2019, long vying to join tennis icons Roger Federer and Jimmy Connors as one of just three men to reach that milestone in the Open Era. His wait for this particular milestone goes on after the stunning defeat at the hands of his childhood idol. Menšík couldn’t hide his awe at Djokovic’s greatness. He told Džumar, “When I was a kid, I began playing tennis thanks to you,” driving home how deeply influential Djokovic was to his future success.
Whether it was Menšík’s brilliance or Djokovic’s injury-depleted ball-striking potential, that final match was a marvel to behold. He appeared to have trouble with pain in his right eye throughout the competition. This pain required him to take eye drops in between changeovers. Even with these challenges, Djokovic began to find progress in his knees as the tournament went on. He attributed this advancement to the impactful treatment he received.
I went for treatment, he did a miracle and thanks to him I got back on the court. Menšík recognized what an invaluable part medical support played in his travels. He added, ‘Because of him, I’m able to be here today.’
Djokovic started the season at an uncharacteristic 7-4, but got hot at the Miami Open that changed his outlook on the year. He was up against a very dangerous opponent in Menšík, who proved very hard to shake off and showed incredible poise and skill on the court. Menšík, a rising star, recognized Djokovic’s impressive legacy with dignity. He added, “There is not a more difficult thing for a tennis player to do than to lose to you in a tournament final.”
As Menšík posed with the trophy, Djokovic was quick to seize the emotional moment, recognizing what this occasion meant for such a young player. This is Jakub’s time! This is a party for Jakub’s team, for Jakub’s family, congratulating him on an unbelievable tournament—this is just the beginning of many!” said Menšík’s coach during Menšík’s on-court interview.
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