The Czech teenager Jakub Mensik overcame Novak Djokovic in the ATP Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium - after several suspennsions in play due to rain and lightning
Teenage sensation Jakub Mensik beat Novak Djokovic in the ATP Miami Open.
Mensik, 19, claimed his first ever ATP Tour title by overcoming his childhood idol 7-6(4) 7-6(4) in an upset for the ages on Sunday. The Czech teenager denied former number one in his bid for a milestone 100th career title. Mensik, who going into the final was ranked 54th, aced tough odds in only his second ATP final. Yet, he harnessed his best weapon to subdue the 24-times major winner with 14 aces.
Djokovic, 37, had hoped to join Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) as the only men in the Open Era with 100 or more career titles but could not match the teenager's speed and creative play at the Hard Rock Stadium. Footage shared on Twitter, now known as X, by Miami Open's official account shows Mensik collapse to the floor, overwhelmed with emotion, after hitting his winning shot at the arena in Miami Gardens. His unreturnable serve - a weapon he deployed throughout the tournament - clinched victory in only Mensik's second ATP final.
And poignant photographs show the teenager in tears as he lifts the trophy, his first career title just three years after turning professional.
The victory nearly never came as the match kicked off hours after it was expected to start after repeated rain delays forced a lengthy suspension of the women's doubles championship contest earlier in the day. Mensik then experienced a knee injury, treated just in term by physios at the Hard Rock Stadium.
And then Djokovic, the illustrious Serb, arrived on the court after several hours of rain delays with swelling near his right eye and appeared off-kilter as he handed his young opponent a break with a clumsy shot out of bounds in the second game, and slipped and fell in the fifth. While Djokovic's frustration grew, particularly in the seventh, the Czech held his nerve and clinched the set with an overhead smash. His speed was too much for the veteran and, after a 21-shot rally in the tiebreak, Mensik sensationally claimed victory.
But he nearly never made it out onto the court at all due to knee problem - until an ATP physio was able to treat the injury in the eleventh hour. Speaking after the massive win, a delighted Mensik told the crowd: "A big special thanks to one of the ATP physios, Alejandro because I have to tell you one story - one hour before my first match here (in Miami), I was holding the paper of pulling out from the tournament because my knee was hurting a lot. I was just lucky then the referee was having lunch so then, for the last time, I came for treatment and he did a miracle. Because of him, I stepped onto the court and, because of him, I am standing here so thank you, a big, special thanks to him. Thank you guys (the crowd) for everything."
