Mensik on facing Djokovic in Miami final: “I’m here to win”
Jakub Mensik will go up against Novak Djokovic in the Miami final on Sunday. Despite being the underdog, the teenager is full of confidence.
Jakub Mensik, 2025 | © Julien Touet, Tennis Majors
Jakub Mensik is only 19 years old, but Sunday’s Miami Open final will already be his second matchup with his idol, Novak Djokovic.
Although the first encounter resulted in a loss, Mensik accounted himself well. He took the first set off Djokovic at the 2024 Shanghai Masters this past October before falling 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-4.
Five and a half months later, Mensik expects to be even more competitive in the rematch.
I’m going there on Sunday to win. In Shanghai I was more (there to) enjoy and to take the experiences. Right now I’m here to win.
“(I’m a) different player,” the Czech said during his post-match press conference after upsetting Taylor Fritz in the semi-finals on Friday night. “I played against Novak in Shanghai. I was kind of nervous. I’m not saying that [I won’t be] on Sunday, also. But, yeah, I was just nervous. I was not able to hold (the) nerves very well in the match. I think [in the last] few months I just grew up a little mentally.
“Of course, playing right now I feel that the conditions and everything here suits me very well. I feel really comfortable on the court. So I’m going there on Sunday to win. No doubt on that. In Shanghai I was more (there to) enjoy and to take the experiences. Right now I’m here to win.”
Mensik’s improvement has been steady dating back to his first full season on tour in 2024 — and even to the 2023 US Open, where he reached the third round before falling to Fritz. He reached back-to-back ATP quarter-finals in Shanghai and Vienna last fall and has added three more top-10 wins to his haul in 2025 (over Fritz and Jack Draper in Miami after beating Casper Ruud at the Australian Open).
Mensik will climb to at least No 30 in the rankings on Monday.
“It’s just my journey,” Mensik responded when asked if there was one specific moment that really changed his trajectory on tour. “Last year was my first year on the ATP Tour, so I was taking the experiences. Everything was for me new. I came there just to enjoy, take the experiences on the matches, tournaments.
“When I came [to Miami], I was here already last year, so I know how it feels, how it is in here. I have more experiences. Of course, I finished (a) few weeks ago my first year on the tour, so actually (I’m) still pretty young. Yeah, that’s just the journey, the thing that I’m feeling. It’s not just one particular match or situation, but it’s all the tournaments, all the matches. Every match I’m getting better and better.”
