The first clay-court ATP Masters 1000 event of the 2025 season is set to unfold in Monte Carlo, with all the big names ready to battle it out from April 6-13. This marks the 118th edition of the prestigious tournament, and the entry list is stacked with tennis superstars. Top-seeded players like Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Alexander Zverev are gearing up to start their clay campaigns. But one rising star will be noticeably absent—Jakub Mensik. The 19-year-old Czech sensation, who just stunned the tennis world by beating Novak Djokovic in the Miami Open final, is opting for a well-earned break. And an ATP legend thinks it’s the right call.

Mensik’s Miami Open run was nothing short of spectacular. He dropped only two sets en route to the final, taking down Indian Wells champion Jack Draper and fourth-seeded Taylor Fritz along the way. Under the humid Florida night sky, he secured his maiden ATP Tour title with a 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4) victory over Djokovic. The 24-time Grand Slam champion was aiming to become only the third player in the Open Era to reach 100 singles titles, but his wait continues. Mensik, incredibly, was just 10 months old when Djokovic claimed his first title back in 2006.

Despite his historic win, Mensik won’t be heading to Monte Carlo. Instead, he’s returning home to Prostějov, Czech Republic, to recover and recharge. And Boris Becker, a six-time Grand Slam champion, completely agrees with his decision. Reacting on X to the news, he wrote, “Smart decision from Jakub.”

It turns out the 19-year-old had been playing through a significant knee injury. After his victory, he revealed just how close he was to pulling out of the tournament. “I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t run,” he admitted. “I started to treat it, started to take painkillers. Nothing was helping. I was visiting the referee’s office to say ‘guys, I’m pulling out,’ but he was having lunch.”

A visit to the physiotherapist turned things around. The injury wasn’t as serious as feared, and after a few treatment sessions, he was able to compete. “After a few minutes, I started to feel a little relief,” Mensik said. “Somehow, I won the first round, and then I had one day off, which of course, for my knee was much better. Day by day, the knee was getting better, and with that also my game.”

Mensik’s next stop will be the ATP 500 event in Munich, kicking off on April 14. With a fresh title under his belt and his ranking skyrocketing to a career-high No. 24, he’s only getting started.

Jakub Mensik dubs his Miami Open title “#1st of many”

Mensik’s Miami triumph makes him the second-youngest champion in the tournament’s history. He also became the first Czech player to win an ATP Masters 1000 title since Tomas Berdych’s triumph in 2005. His record for the season now stands at an impressive 14-6.

If his Miami Open camera message is anything to go by, he’s got big ambitions. Writing “#1 of many,” Mensik made it clear that this was just the beginning.

Speaking after his victory, the Czech starlet emphasized his hunger for more success. He said, “I know that this is not the end and I know that this is just the beginning for me. I’m still 19 years old, so I have all of my career in front of me. It feels really great to have this next to me, but it’s not just about the one title, one tournament, I’m hungry for more. Right now I will celebrate, rest. When I come back home, I go back to work and try to get better and better, because still there is a lot of space for improvement in my game, so I will, me and my team, will do my best to lift these trophies more often.”

With his rapid rise, Jakub Mensik has officially arrived on the ATP Tour. How many more titles do you think he can win this season?