Jakub Mensik is making waves in tennis. Remember when he said, “It’s great that there is new blood always,” at the Australian Open in January? Now, he’s proving to be part of that new wave. The 19-year-old Czech star is set to face his idol, Novak Djokovic, a six-time Miami champion, in his first Masters 1000 final. The same idol he trained with in Belgrade and Montenegro, adopting his meticulous routines and preparation.

Even his coach, Tomas Josefus, highlights Mensik’s counter-attacking backhand from an open stance—reminiscent of Djokovic’s style—as his best weapon. This young star is relentless with his skills. But why?

On Friday, Mensik stunned the tennis world by firing 25 aces to defeat hometown favorite Taylor Fritz 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(4) in the semifinals. Ranked No. 54, he’s now the third-lowest-ranked finalist in Miami Open history—a true Cinderella story for the teen from Prostejov, Czechia. Few know that his journey began near tennis courts close to his childhood home, where he first fell in love with the sport. “We still have two courts in front of our house, so when I was a little kid, I was watching kids play there. I like the nerves. I like the atmosphere out there,” he shared in an ATP Tour Instagram reel.

But don’t mistake Mensik’s charm for softness—he’s fiercely competitive. “I think that I am a good guy, but then when you are on the court you just want to beat the guy so then you are not friends anymore,” he admitted. This mindset has fueled his success in Miami after a slow start to the year.

He edged Indian Wells champion Jack Draper with two tie-break wins and showcased resilience against Arthur Fils, saving two breakpoints at 5-5 before cruising to victory.

Against Draper, Mensik fired 21 aces and stayed composed under pressure to win 7-6(2), 7-6(3). The Briton struggled to convert key opportunities as Mensik capitalized on errors and dominated the tie-breaks. Facing Fils, the Czech displayed his aggressive baseline game and adaptability, winning 7-6(5), 6-1 with precision serving and relentless groundstrokes.

Despite his rising fame, Mensik remains grounded while balancing tennis with finishing high school. Off court, he’s approachable and thoughtful; on court, he thrives under pressure. Even Fritz admitted being rattled by Mensik’s dominance during their match.

World No.4 opens up about what he thinks is Jakub’s biggest strength

Taylor Fritz couldn’t hide his disappointment after falling just short of the Miami Open final. The American star admitted feeling “horrible” after losing to Jakub Mensik in a thrilling semifinal, 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(4). The third seed was desperate to reach another ATP Masters 1000 final on home soil but was outgunned by Mensik’s powerful serves.

“That’s no consolation,” Fritz said, reflecting on his inability to break Mensik’s serve throughout the match. “I was unable to play at the necessary level in both tiebreaks, so I feel horrible.”

Mensik’s serve was the deciding factor, with a staggering 25 aces that left Fritz struggling to cope. “His serve is crazy; it’s always been powerful, but now he’s also placing it with incredible precision,” Fritz noted. He also praised Mensik’s rapid improvement across all aspects of his game. The American believes Mensik has a real chance to upset Novak Djokovic if he can maintain his serving form. “I think he has a chance to beat Djokovic; it all depends on whether Djokovic can sense his serve better than I can,” Fritz said.

As Mensik prepares to face Djokovic in the final, he’s on the cusp of history. Ranked No. 54, he’s the third-lowest-ranked finalist in Miami Open history and one of the youngest. A win could catapult him to No. 24 in the rankings.

Mensik is ready to take on the world’s best with his aggressive playing style and potent serve. The question on everyone’s mind: Can this young Czech sensation pull off a stunning upset against the tennis legend? We’d love to know what you think!