Back in 2014, Novak Djokovic passionately highlighted the crucial role of his close friend and physio, Miljan Amanovic, stating, “He helps me to recover, to prevent injuries and to get my physical condition in the best possible shape. He knows exactly what I need in every moment, which is not an easy task. 2 But, he does it in a magnificent manner, as you can see.” The impact of Amanovic’s expertise was evident when Djokovic, despite withdrawing from the Madrid Masters with a recurring arm injury, remarkably recovered to defeat Rafael Nadal in Rome just 15 days later, securing his 19th Masters 1000 title. Fast forward to today, and the vital contribution of another physio is making waves, this time playing a game-changing role for Djokovic’s recent Miami Open final opponent, Jakub Mensik.

“Big special thanks to one of the ATP physios: Alejandro, because I have to tell you one story,” Mensik said into the microphone on the Miami Open’s stadium court after his victory that saw him become the “first teenager ever to defeat Novak Djokovic in straight sets in a completed tour-level match.” 

The Czech teenager’s journey to that final was nothing short of extraordinary, beginning just two days prior to his first match. He battled knee inflammation that prevented him from even running on a treadmill. “One hour before my first match in 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,” Mensik began telling the story.

A stroke of luck, in the form of a fortuitous delay involving the tournament referee, allowed Mensik to remain in the draw. Seizing this unexpected opportunity, he then remarkably defeated Roberto Bautista Agut in his opening match. Reflecting on the improbable win, Mensik simply stated, “Somehow I won it,” highlighting his sheer resilience.

That victory set the stage for a stunning run, including wins over Indian Wells champion Jack Draper, Roman Safiullin, Arthur Fils, and a hard-fought semi-final triumph against Taylor Fritz. Then came the Miami Open final—featuring a significant 18-year age gap between the participants, making it the biggest age difference in a Masters 1000 final and the largest at any tour-level final since 1976.

“So then, for the last time I came for the treatment, he did a miracle and because of him, I stepped on the court,” added Mensik.

Meanwhile, Djokovic walked onto the court after hours of rain delays, his right eye visibly swollen, a troubling sign for the 24-time GS champion. From the outset, he looked unsettled, gifting the Czech an early break with an errant shot. The Serb also slipped in the 5th game, took a moment to recover as the Hard Rock Stadium crowd cheered him on, and frequently applied eye drops during changeovers.

Though he fought back to level the set, frustration erupted when Mensik raced to a 5-0 lead in the tie-break, leaving the Olympic Gold Medalist fuming at his box, where Andy Murray watched in silence.

The second set saw a fierce battle, with Mensik’s speed neutralizing Djokovic’s masterful drop shots. Djokovic fought off two break points, but exhaustion took its toll. In a grueling 21-shot rally during the tie-break, Novak collapsed, while Mensik sealed his dream victory, 7-6(4), 7-6(4). The tournament director James Blake handed Mensik the winner’s trophy.

“And because of him I am standing here, so thank you – big special thanks for him and thank you guys for everything,” concluded Mensik. 

Meanwhile, the young Czech reflected on defeating his childhood idol.

Jakub Mensik opened up about his tennis idol, Novak Djokovic

The rising star, who has long idolized Novak Djokovic, left a bold statement on the camera lens as he exited the court: “1st of many.” A moment that signified the dawn of a new and energetic era, it was almost surreal to realize that Mensik wasn’t even born when Djokovic played in his 1stATP Masters 1000 event. When informed of this, the crowned champion buried his face in his hands, overwhelmed by the magnitude of his achievement.

“I was watching him growing up. Because of him, I started to play tennis. So it just feels incredible that I had the opportunity for a second time to play against him. And to beat him in this tournament in the finals, which was just a dream to win an ATP tournament, and even better that it’s a Masters 1000. Playing against Novak in the finals makes it more special,” Jakub Mensik said in his post-match press conference..

Meanwhile, Djokovic, the oldest player ever to reach a Masters 1000 final at 37-year-old, had hoped to join the elite club of men with 100 career titles, alongside Jimmy Connors (109) and the Swiss icon Roger Federer (103). But in the end, his dream was denied. 

With the clay season just around the corner, how many titles do you think Jakub Mensik will win this year following his emphatic Miami Open victory? Could this be the start of a breakthrough season for a rising star from Czech?