“I Was About to Sign Withdrawal Papers”: Teen Prodigy Jakub Mensik’s Shocking Confession Following Djokovic Upset and First Title Win

After enduring a six-hour rain delay, teenage sensation Jakub Mensik stunned Novak Djokovic to secure the Miami Open title, prevailing in two tense tiebreak sets. The victory signalled his emergence as a future star in the tennis world as he lifted the prestigious Masters 1000 trophy.

The Czech rising star achieved a nail-biting 7-6(4), 7-6(4) win, preventing the Serbian icon from claiming a historic 100th tour-level title.

At just 19, Mensik is now the second youngest man to win the Miami tournament, following Carlos Alcaraz, who was 18 when he triumphed in 2022.

“Honestly, I’m not sure what to say. It feels absolutely incredible,” Mensik remarked during his on-court interview.

“Today was likely the biggest day of my life, and I performed incredibly well. I’m really pleased that I managed to control my nerves before the match. I just feel overjoyed, and I think the emotions will hit me later,” he added.

In the early stages of the second set, Djokovic finally began to find his rhythm, but Mensik was already in command, expertly defending against the Serbian with precise serves. He faced just one break point and won an impressive 77 per cent of his first-serve points, according to ATP statistics.

Throughout the match, Djokovic appeared to be hindered by an ongoing eye issue, repeatedly rubbing his right eye and using eye drops during changeovers.

To clinch victory, Mensik delivered an unreturnable serve, falling to the court in jubilation, while his team erupted in cheers from the sidelines.

Remarkably, only a couple of matches earlier, the 19-year-old had contemplated withdrawing from the tournament altogether.

“An hour before my first match in Miami, I was actually signing a withdrawal document. I was fortunate the referee was on lunch break. Then the physio worked wonders,” shared Mensik.

The 19-year-old and the 37-year-old Djokovic presented the largest age difference ever seen in a tour final since 1976, with the Czech newcomer exhibiting poise and composure against the six-time champion.

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Following the match, Djokovic complimented the young star, conceding that he was bested in the match played at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.

“This is Jakub’s moment… Congratulations on an incredible tournament. It pains me to admit it, but you outperformed me,” he said.

Originally slated for a 3pm local start, the match was delayed by heavy rain in Florida, causing 10,000 fans to wait for several hours before the championship finally commenced at 8.45pm.

Mensik has kicked off his 2025 season with impressive form, achieving multiple victories over top-10 players, including a standout performance at the Australian Open. He claimed wins against both Taylor Fritz and Jack Draper in Miami, and also triumphed over Casper Ruud in Australia, though he faced a setback against Aussie Alex de Minaur in Rotterdam.

After this victory, Mensik will rise to a career-high No.24 in the ATP rankings, a remarkable leap considering he was ranked No.390 just two years ago.