Only a surprise Czech player can stop Novak Djokovic from winning his 100th ATP title in Miami. Jakub Mensik makes his first appearance in such a major final.
29.03.2025, 08:02
29.03.2025, 08:31
SDA
The 19-year-old Jakub Mensik, the world number 54, surprisingly defeated US Open finalist Taylor Fritz 7:6 (7:4), 4:6, 7:6 (7:4) on Saturday night. Djokovic had previously had no trouble at all against Grigor Dimitrov.
Mensik lost his only ATP final to date a year ago in February at the much smaller tournament in Doha. Despite his inexperience, the Czech showed nerves of steel in the semi-final against Fritz and defeated the world number four without losing his serve even once. The American managed the only break at the start of the second set, but the younger player had the better nerves in the two-and-a-half-hour duel between two very good servers.
The pressure will naturally also be on Novak Djokovic in the final on Sunday evening as he strives for his 100th title on the main tour. The Serb, who last triumphed at the Olympic Games in Paris last summer, won his only duel to date against Mensik in three hard-fought sets in Shanghai in the fall.
Djokovic would be only the third player after Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) with at least 100 ATP titles. In Miami, he did not concede a set on his way to the final.
