Defeating Novak Djokovic in the final, Jakub Mensik was officially crowned at Miami Open 2025. At the age of 19, he was the second youngest champion in the tournament history, after Carlos Alcaraz in 2022.
Speaking after the match, Mensik could not hide the emotion. However, the young Czech star did not forget to send his gratitude to his idol. Mensik claims Djokovic is the inspiration to bring him to professional tennis.
“You can see how great Novak is. He is a true champion when he always shows respect. Even when he has won all titles, all achievements in this sport, he is still competing in the final of the biggest tournaments of ATP Tour.
Playing with Novak, hearing compliments from him, this is the reason I stand here. I know I'm really on the right direction to do very well my work. Thanks to Novak, I started playing tennis. And when he was encountered in a final, the feeling was so wonderful, ”Mensik shared.
Besides, the player also revealed his health status before this year's Miami Open. He had to inject painkillers, even intending to withdraw from the prize.
“Two days before the first match, I started to feel pain. I checked with the doctors but did not detect any problem. I couldn't walk, could not run. I started taking painkillers but did not see the effect.
I don't know what to do. I just went to the doctor's room to get the prescription and announce that I would give up. But at that time, he was lunch. Therefore, I went to the physiotherapy doctor first. He began to perform a few therapies (for 30 minutes). He told me, 'Nothing is serious, you can still play this pain and nothing happened'. After a few minutes, I began to feel more relieved. I took a variety of painkillers, they work a bit. After that, 30 minutes before the match, I could run.
Somehow I won the first round and then had a day off. Of course it is much better for my knee. Day by day, my knees are stronger, leading to my form, ”Mensik said.
