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Jakub Mensik racked up a plethora of stellar statistical feats as he upset Novak Djokovic to win his first-ever career title at the 2025 Miami Open.

The 19-year-old Czech produced an outstanding display to earn a 7-6(4), 7-6(4) victory against Djokovic in a rain-delayed final at the Hard Rock Stadium.

After his triumph, Mensik paid tribute to Djokovic, who he has revealed is his biggest idol.

“Novak, everyone knows you’re the one… the reason I’m here. I watched you growing up. I started to play tennis because of you,” Mensik said during the trophy ceremony.

“There is not a harder task for a tennis player than to beat you in the final of a tournament. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done in this sport and for everyone. You’re an incredible person. The greatest of all time.”

Here are nine impressive stats after Mensik’s breakthrough win.

Lowest-ranked man to win the Miami Open

Having entered the tournament as the world No 54, Mensik has become the lowest-ranked player to ever win the Miami Open men’s singles title.

First player to win seven tiebreaks en route to a Masters 1000 title

The big-serving Czech won all seven tiebreaks he played in his six matches in Miami, which is the most any player has won en route to securing a Masters 1000 title.

He won two tiebreaks against Jack Draper in the second round, one against Arthur Fils in the quarter-finals, two against Taylor Fritz in the last four and two against Djokovic in the final.

Second player to win seven tiebreaks en route to an ATP title

Mensik is only the second player to win seven tiebreaks in a title run at any level of ATP tournament after John Isner, who also prevailed in seven tiebreaks en route to winning the 2013 Atlanta Open.

Second teenager outside top 20 to win a Masters 1000 title

The 19-year-old has become only the second teenager ranked outside the top 20 to win a Masters 1000 event after Michael Chang, who triumphed at the 1990 Canadian Open when ranked 24th.

Fourth man to win their maiden title at a Masters 1000 event

Mensik is only the fourth ATP player to win their maiden career singles title at Masters level after Roberto Carretero (Hamburg 1996), Chris Woodruff (Montreal 1997) and Albert Portas (Hamburg 2001).

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Fifth-youngest man to win a Masters 1000 title

The Czech is the fifth-youngest man to win a Masters 1000 title after Chang, Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune.

Sixth lowest-ranked player to win a Masters 1000 title

Only five players have won a Masters 1000 title with a lower ATP ranking than Mensik’s 54: Borna Coric (152), Carretero (143), Mikael Pernfors (95), Alexei Popyrin (62) and Woodruff (57).

Second player outside top 50 to defeat Novak Djokovic in a final

Mensik is just the second player ranked outside the top 50 to beat Djokovic in an ATP final after Stan Wawrinka, who achieved the feat at the 2006 Croatia Open — when the Serb was forced to retire in the first set.

Improves his superb record vs. top 10 opponents

Mensik’s win over Djokovic, the world No 5, improves his record against top 10 players to an outstanding 8-3.

READ NEXT: Money and points earned by Mensik, Djokovic, Zverev, Alcaraz at Miami Open

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Rafael Nadal has given his insight into which match he would most like to ‘replay’ if he was given the opportunity – and his answer may be surprising to some.

The Spaniard has done it all, winning 22 Grand Slams – 14 times at Roland Garros – achieving world No 1 status, and lifting countless Masters 1000 titles.

However, Nadal has – somewhat inevitably – also had many heartbreaking losses.

“I believe that if I could play a game again, maybe it would be the 2014 Australian [Open] final, to see if I don’t get hurt,” said Nadal, speaking in a Q&A session on his new TikTok account.

In that 2014 final, the former world No 1 lost 6–3, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3 to Stan Wawrinka – who collected his first Grand Slam title.

However, whilst it may seem like a ‘typical’ final loss, Nadal tweaked his back during the pre-match warmup.

The discomfort quickly became evident, especially within his serve and movement, and would have been a major blow to the Spaniard.

Heading into that match, Nadal had won all 12 matches and 26 sets contested against the Swiss. Additionally, he had won two of the last three Grand Slams – winning 26 consecutive hard-court matches from March to October 2013.

“I did not want to retire,” stated the 22-time Grand Slam champion after the loss.

“It was not an easy situation for me. I tried hard. I tried to finish the match as good as I can, for the crowd, for the opponent, for me.

“But it was impossible to win this way. I have talked enough about the back. That’s life. I’ve had a lot of great moments in my career, and that was a tough one.

That is part of life, part of sport. It is not the end of the world.”

Nadal, in his usual humble style, stated: “A lot of people in this world have lots of very tough days. I’m not that kind of person. I feel very lucky to be able to work at something I love to do.

“It is tough tonight, and in a few weeks that’s going to pass. I’m going to keep working, training hard. I’m going to keep enjoying this world of tennis.

“But this is Stan’s day, not my day. It is very tough to stop him when he’s playing that way. He’s playing better and better, with amazing confidence, hitting every ball very, very hard, moving great.”

The Australian Open has been the site of numerous tough losses for Nadal, the most prominent of which was the record-breaking 2012 final against Novak Djokovic.

That match is the longest Grand Slam final at five hours and fifty-three minutes, with the scoreline ultimately being 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 in Djokovic’s favour.

The Spaniard had lost his last two Grand Slam finals against the Serb and missed a routine backhand wide whilst leading 4-2, 30-15 in the fifth set – ultimately being broken back as a result.

“I’m not frustrated: I competed to the maximum,” said Nadal about the match, in a 2024 interview.

“I am satisfied. I have given the most I had. I have played well. I have fought until the end. I lost. The other one beat me.

“This is sport: if you dedicate yourself to this, you either win or you lose.”

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Another ‘regretful’ match is likely his 2007 Wimbledon match against Roger Federer.

Heading into the showpiece match, the pair had won the last nine Grand Slam events – with Federer having also won the last four Wimbledon titles.

By 2007, it was clear to see that Nadal’s grass-court game had improved vastly and was as equal to the Swiss’ as any other opponent.

After 3 hours and 45 minutes, Federer’s domination continued with a 7–6(7), 4–6, 7–6(3), 2–6, 6–2 victory over his young rival.

Similarly to his final against Djokovic in Melbourne, Nadal had multiple chances to gain a crucial lead in the fifth set – unable to take the opportunities at 2-2 on Federer’s serve.

The post Rafael Nadal reveals which match he would love to replay – and it’s not epic against Novak Djokovic appeared first on Tennis365.

Andy Murray has become the latest high-profile tennis star to post an image alongside soccer legend Lionel Messi after the Argentine icon attended the Miami Open.

Messi was in attendance to watch Novak Djokovic beat his long-time rival Grigor Dimitrov, with the sporting giants exchanging gifts in the locker room after the match.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray is currently working with Djokovic as his coach and took the opportunity to grab a photo with World Cup winner Messi, which he posted on Instagram.

Murray is a big Arsenal fan and has often spoken about his passion for the sport and has spoken about his love of playing fantasy football in the past.

So he couldn’t miss a chance to grab a moment with arguably the greatest footballer of all-time, as he posted a cheeky message that is relevant to English soccer fans.

Some great players are accused of struggling to perform at their best when they are not on the biggest and when the weather not welcoming.

Dark nights at Stoke City are often referenced as examples of when superstar players might struggle to perform and that explained Murray’s message on Instagram that read: “I asked him if he could do it on a cold rainy night in Stoke. He responded “cállate la boca” which I think means yes in Spanish.”

Messi’s meeting with Djokovic has sparked a debate over who is the greatest sportsman of all-time, with these two giants certainly in the debate over that ultimate GOAT crown.

Many believe Messi is the greatest footballer of all-time and Djokovic is undoubtedly the greatest male tennis player of them all statistically, so these two should be considered on the A-list of all sports.

“It’s a great honour to have King Leo in the stands. I think it’s the first time I’ve played in front of Messi, and honestly, I was a little nervous,” said Djokovic.

“I am very grateful for his attendance with his family. I have always been a fan of him, as most of the world has, throughout his career.”

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He was also asked about Messi in his press conference as he added: “I’ve watched him play a few times. I think finals of World Cup, I watched when he won with Argentina. I think I watched him last year once. I think it was with L.A. with Inter Miami.

“Obviously thrilled to have his whole family. I did see him after the match. Came by the locker room. So we spent some time talking and exchanging gifts.

“It’s a huge honour. I mean, he’s such a great athlete, not just a football player. His impact on the world of sport in the last 20 years has been immense.

“To have him watch me live obviously brings me great, great joy and excitement, and also a bit of pressure, to be honest.

“I was rated by one of his sons today as 8 out of 10, which is pretty good. He with a serious face told me I have too make 10 out of 10 next match.

“So I have quite a bit of pressure from Messi’s son there. Yeah, we joked around. It was nice to meet with his whole family. It was a very touching moment for me because it’s one thing that he comes, but then bringing his whole family, his kids, his wife.

“As a young father myself, I know what that means. It’s different when you bring the whole family. I was very touched by that and his willingness to spend some time after. I value that time with him.

“It’s a wonderful moment for me and for this tournament and tennis in general for him to be here.”

READ NEXT: How Lionel Messi powered Jakub Mensik to Miami Open final

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The Sunshine Double has been completed with Aryna Sabalenka crowned champion at the Miami Open after she defeated home favourite Jessica Pegula in the final.

Reigning world No 1 Sabalenka won her eighth WTA 1000 title with a commanding 7-5, 6-2 victory over Pegula as she claimed her second title of the 2025 season following her success at the Brisbane International at the start of the year.

She also came agonisingly close at the Australian Open and Indian Wells Open when she finished runner-up to Madison Keys and Mirra Andreeva respectively.

The three-time Grand Slam winner is now 23-4 this season while Pegula is 20–6 having won the ATX Open at the beginning of March.

Both finalists left with a good haul of points while there was disappointment for several big-name players following their early exits from the tournament.

WTA Points Earned

Sabalenka was a BIG winner as she only had 65 points to defend from 2024 following her poor performance.

Winners at all WTA 1000 event receive 1,000 points and Sabalenka thus had a net gain of 935 points, which has helped her to increase her lead over Iga Swiatek in the WTA Rankings.

The Belarusian now sits on 10,541 points for a 3,071-point lead over the five-time Grand Slam winner with Coco Gauff well adrift in third place and Pegula now within striking distance of her fellow American.

Pegula won 650 points for finishing runner-up, although she dropped 215 points from 2024.

Jasmine Paolini and Alex Eala were the two semi-finalists and they rewarded with 390 points while Swiatek, Emma Raducanu, Magda Linette and Zheng Qinwen earned 215 points after exiting in the quarter-finals.

Gauff, reigning Australian Open winner Keys, 2024 Miami Open finalists Danielle Collins and Elena Rybakina, and Indian Wells champion Andreeva were some of the star players who didn’t reach the business end of the Florida event.

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American pair Gauff and Collins lost in the fourth round and they earned 120 points and latter took a massive hit as she was defending 1,000 points from her 2024 title run. She is set to slip outside the top 20 of the rankings.

Keys and Andreeva lost in the third round and picked up 65 points while Rybakina lost a round earlier so only earned 10 points.

WTA Prize Money Earned

Sabalenka earned $599,625 for finishing runner-up in Indian Wells and she collected a cool $1,124,380 for her title run at the Miami Open. She has surged to No 1 in the top prize money earners on the WTA Tour in 2025.

As the runner-up, Pegula received $597,890 in Miami and that will take the world No 4’s 2025 prize money earnings to past the $1m mark.

Paolini and Eala earned $332,160 for their runs to the last eight and for the latter that is a big pay day as her career prize money was $498,901 before the Miami Open.

Quarter-finalists Swiatek, Raducanu, Linette and Zheng added $189,075 to their prize money totals while Gauff and Collins also cracked the $100,000 total as they earned $103,225.

Andreeva earned $1,127,500 in Indian Wells, but she went home with $60,440 after her Miami exit along with Keys. The American collected A$3,500,000 (US$2,198,928) when she won the Australian Open.

The post Money and points earned by Sabalenka, Pegula, Swiatek, Gauff, Raducanu in Miami appeared first on Tennis365.

Novak Djokovic and Jakub Mensik will face off in what promises to be a blockbuster inter-generational final at the 2025 Miami Open.

The prestigious hard-court tournament in Miami is the second Masters 1000 event of the season and the second leg of the Sunshine Double after the Indian Wells Open.

Here is our guide to the Miami title match.

Djokovic’s route to the final

Djokovic, the world No 5 and fourth seed in Miami, has progressed to the final without losing a set in his five victories.

The 37-year-old Serbian has seen off Rinky Hijikata (No 86), Camilo Ugo Carabelli (No 65), Lorenzo Musetti (No 16), Sebastian Korda (No 25) and Grigor Dimitrov (No 15) during a dominant run.

Mensik’s route to the final

Mensik, the world No 54, has dropped two sets in his five victories and also received a walkover from Czech compatriot Tomas Machac in the last 16.

The unseeded 19-year-old has downed Roberto Bautista Agut (No 50), Jack Draper (No 7), Roman Safiullin (No 71), Arthur Fils (No 18) and Taylor Fritz (No 4) in the best streak of his career to date.

What is on the line for each player?

Djokovic is chasing a seventh Miami Open title, a record-extending 41st Masters 1000 crown — and perhaps most significantly — a milestone 100th ATP singles title overall.

Mensik is vying to win his maiden tour level title in what will be his second career final and first at Masters 1000 level.

When will the match take place?

The Miami Open men’s singles final is scheduled for Not Before 3pm local time (7pm UK time) on Sunday on the Stadium Court at the Hard Rock Stadium.

How much prize money and how many ranking points will the players earn?

The winner of the Masters 1000 final will be awarded with $1,124,380 and 1,000 ATP ranking points, while the runner-up will collect $597,890 and 650 points.

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What is the head-to-head record?

Djokovic leads the head-to-head 1-0, having prevailed 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-4 in the pair’s only previous meeting in the quarter-finals of the 2024 Shanghai Masters — just under six months ago.

What have the players said about each other?

Mensik has named Djokovic as his biggest idol, but he made his desire to defeat the tennis legend clear after his semi-final win over Fritz.

“[I’m a] different player,” he said in his semi-final press conference. “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.”

Djokovic did not speak about Mensik after beating Dimitrov in the first semi-final on Friday, but he was full of praise for the Czech before their first encounter in Shanghai.

“He’s a young guy who’s on the rise,” the 24-time major winner said in October.

“I’ve been following him since he played the Australian Open final, I think it was in the juniors about three years ago.

“We’ve had a week of training in Belgrade a couple of times, and he’s come to play in the Serbian Open on clay.

“I’ve followed his development, I try to be available to give him advice and guidance, and to his parents, who are lovely people – so I’m very happy for him that he’s doing so well.

“I always thought he had the potential to become one of the best players in the world, and that’s what he’s doing right now.”

READ NEXT: Jakub Mensik emulates Nadal, Djokovic, Sinner and Alcaraz with prodigious Miami Open feat

The post Novak Djokovic-Jakub Mensik Miami Open final preview: prize money, what the players have said & more appeared first on Tennis365.

Emma Raducanu has reportedly been given the green light to employ Mark Petchey as her coach for this summer’s Wimbledon Championships.

Petchey is currently working for the Tennis Channel as their TV commentator but the broadcaster has reportedly allowed the 54-year-old to work with Raducanu in the summer.

The former player was in Raducanu’s box in Miami, which saw the 22-year-old reach the quarter-final, her best performance in a tournament this year, and it appears their work together will continue for the foreseeable future.

Raducanu has already been through a number of coaches this year with Nick Cavaday stepping aside due to health issues before Vlado Platenik lasted just one match.

Petchey, who also works with Amazon Prime, ITV and the BBC, was in the crowd for Raducanu’s Miami exploits but is not officially part of her coaching team.

The tournament in Miami was a welcome return to form for the Briton after she reached the first WTA 1000 quarterfinal of her career.

“Despite losing today I can take some good positives from this week and look forward,” Raducanu said.

“I think I just need to take a beat and kind of reevaluate what I’m doing. This week it was good but I need to kind of just figure things out and then I’ll make a plan from there.”

Petchey has previously spoken in support of Raducanu, suggesting the criticism of her was too harsh.

“There’s no doubt that she is misunderstood,” Petchey told Betway in January. “If there was an Olympic event for cutting people down who have been successful, as a nation, we (Great Britain) would win the gold medal for it every four years.

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“She’s had to deal with so much which must be incredibly hard for a youngster who is on the cover of every magazine and everybody’s favourite tennis player after the US Open. Obviously, when things don’t go from strength to strength, the attitudes of some people change.

“She’s already getting called a one-Slam wonder like she’s never going to win one again, and that must be incredibly difficult to deal with. People love to take pot shots at her but there’s a lot more to her than just being a tennis player.

“There is so much more to her personality, and she has so many other interests which people don’t realise.

“She’s not arrogant, but you’ve got to be confident. You’ve got to believe in yourself to exist and survive. Let alone thrive.

“Tennis is a ruthless, hostile environment where you have at a Grand Slam, 127 other players who absolutely want to beat your brains out.

“They want the same dream that you’re fighting for, the same trophy and only one person is going to put a pair of hands on that silverware at the end of it. So, if you don’t back yourself, no one else is going to back you.”

Read next: How Lionel Messi powered Jakub Mensik to Miami Open final

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Jakub Mensik revealed a Lionel Messi-handshake powered him to a surprise semi-final victory in the Miami Open.

Mensik reached the final of a Masters 1000 tournament for the first time in his career as the 19-year-old aced his way past Taylor Fritz but beforehand, he had a special visit from football superstar Messi.

The Argentinian, who after a glittering career in Europe, now plays for Inter Miami, 20 miles from the Miami Open venue, met with the Czech ahead of the game.

Mensik revealed he did not wash his hand after shaking Messi’s hand in the build-up to the semi-final match.

“Meeting this legend, not even a human, it’s not happening every day,” Mensik said.

“I was shaking his hand… kind of chilling with him a little bit. I didn’t wash my hand before I stepped on the court, and probably that was the key for today.”

The meeting left a lasting impression on Mensik who, after securing the win, wrote “Thx Leo” on the camera lens.

Standing in the way of the Czech and his first title is Novak Djokovic, another self-confessed idol of Mensik.

The pair have only faced off once before with Djokovic winning but Mensik said he is competing to win, not just take part.

“I am a completely different player from that match,” he said of their 2024 Shanghai match. “I remember being very nervous when I stepped onto the court because I wasn’t mentally mature.

“I don’t doubt I will feel nerves on Sunday, but I believe I will handle them much better. Back then, I went out to enjoy the experience, but now I am here to win.

“I believe one of my greatest virtues is how I handle pressure moments in matches. I can stay calm, focused, and play my best tennis. That’s why I’m winning so many tiebreaks this year.

“Now I understand how the circuit works, I have confidence in my abilities, and I feel that I am becoming a better tennis player every day,”

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For Djokovic, it is a chance at history as he could become the oldest Masters 1000 winner in history but also record his 100th ATP title win.

The Serb admitted that since he won his 99th, the Olympic Games in 2024, he has been dreaming of the next victory.

“Ever since I won my 99th [title], which was the Olympic Games in Paris, I’ve been playing with the prospect of winning the special 100 titles,” said Djokovic.

“I’ve been trying to find that necessary and much-needed level of tennis that will put me in a position to fight for a trophy, a big trophy.

“That’s what I’ve been doing this week, to be honest. I’ve been very happy with the way I prepared for the tournament, the way I’ve been playing. I haven’t dropped a set.

“It’s a great opportunity. Let’s see what happens.”

Djokovic also received a visit from Messi, admitting he was nervous to see the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner in the crowd.

“It’s a great honour to have King Leo in the stands. I think it’s the first time I’ve played in front of Messi, and honestly, I was a little nervous,” said Djokovic.

“I am very grateful for his attendance with his family. I have always been a fan of him, as most of the world has, throughout his career.”

Read next: How Sinner outscored Zverev, Alcaraz, Djokovic in Race To Turin despite playing only one tournament

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The Miami Open men’s singles championship promises to be a fascinating inter-generational battle.

Novak Djokovic, 38, will take on 19-year-old Jakub Mensik in Sunday’s final at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament.

World No 1 Jannik Sinner is the reigning Miami Open champion, but he was unable to defend his crown due to his doping ban.

ATP Rankings Top 10 (March 17, 2025)

1. Jannik Sinner, Italy – 11,330
2. Alexander Zverev, Germany – 7,945
3. Carlos Alcaraz, Spain – 6,910
4. Taylor Fritz, United States – 4,900
5. Novak Djokovic, Serbia – 3,860
6. Casper Ruud, Norway – 3,855
7. Jack Draper, Great Britain – 3,800
8. Daniil Medvedev – 3,680
9. Andrey Rublev – 3,440
10. Stefanos Tsitsipas, Greece – 3,405

The Italian is, therefore, set to drop the 1,000 points he earned for winning the tournament in 2024, which presented Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz — who are ranked second and third respectively — with an opportunity to close the gap at the top.

Alcaraz was unable to cash in as he crashed out in the second round — a loss that will see him lose 190 points after he made the quarter-finals last year.

Zverev did not take advantage either as his fourth round exit means he will drop 300 points after being a semi-finalist at the 2024 Miami Open.

World No 4 Taylor Fritz fared much better by reaching the semi-finals — a result that will increase his points tally by 390.

Djokovic will remain in fifth position irrespective of the outcome of the final, but his run has already seen him close the gap to Fritz and put distance between himself and the chasing pack.

ATP Live Rankings Top 10 (as of March 29, 2025)

1. Jannik Sinner, Italy – 10,330
2. Alexander Zverev, Germany – 7,645
3. Carlos Alcaraz, Spain – 6,720
4. Taylor Fritz, United States – 5,290
5. Novak Djokovic, Serbia – 4,510 (4,860)
6. Casper Ruud, Norway – 3,855
7. Jack Draper, Great Britain – 3,780
8. Stefanos Tsitsipas, Greece – 3,445 (+2)
9. Andrey Rublev – 3,440
10. Alex de Minaur, Australia – 3,335 (+1)

Stefanos Tsitsipas has jumped from 10th to eighth in the Live ATP Rankings despite losing in the third round.

Daniil Medvedev’s defeat in his opening match will see him drop from eighth to 11th, allowing Alex de Minaur to return to the top 10.

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The Winners

Among the top 10, Sinner, Fritz, Djokovic, Tsitsipas and de Minaur are all winners from Miami from a rankings perspective.

Arthur Fils’ run to the quarter-finals in Miami, which mirrored his result in Indian Wells, has seen him climb to a projected new career-high of world No 15 in the Live Rankings.

Jakub Mensik has surged 24 places from 54th to 30th for reaching his maiden Masters 1000 final, and he could climb as high as 24th if he secures the title.

Elsewhere, Matteo Berrettini and Gael Monfils have each jumped four spots to 26th and 42nd respectively after strong showings.

Jacob Fearnley is set for a 10-place move to a new career-high of 73rd.

The Losers

Zverev and Alcaraz’s failure to capitalise on Sinner’s absence at a 1000 tournament with a fairly open draw dealt a significant blow to their world No 1 hopes in the short to medium term.

Daniil Medvedev’s exit from the top 10 for the first time since February 2023 is indicative of his struggles so far this season.

Grigor Dimitrov, a Miami Open runner-up in 2024, is set to slip from 18th to 15th despite reaching the last four this year.

Nicolas Jarry has fallen from 57th to 47th as his difficult run continued, while Marton Fucsovics has dropped from 59th to 80th.

READ NEXT: Novak Djokovic’s biggest weapon in Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal GOAT battle is revealed

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Jakub Mensik joined an exclusive club occupied by tennis legends after earning a thrilling win over Taylor Fritz to reach the 2025 Miami Open final.

The rising Czech star defeated world No 4 Fritz 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(4) in a pulsating two-hour-and-24-minute semi-final at the Hard Rock Stadium.

In a serve-dominated contest, Fritz secured the only break of the match in the second set while Mensik won the first and third set tiebreaks that proved pivotal.

Mensik landed 72% of his first serves and blasted 25 aces as he won 82% of points behind his first delivery and 54% on his second serve.

The 19-year-old, who is seeking his maiden title, is through to his second career final and first at ATP Masters 1000 level.

Having started the Miami Open as the world No 54, Mensik has soared 24 places to 30th in the Live ATP Rankings with the 640 points he has earned.

Mensik is just the fifth teenager in the last 20 years to reach the Miami Open men’s singles final — and he could not be in better company on the list.

Since 2005, Rafael Nadal (2005), Novak Djokovic (2007), Jannik Sinner (2021) and Carlos Alcaraz (2022) are the only other men to feature in a Miami title match before turning 20.

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The Czech has also become only the fourth teenager to register multiple wins over opponents ranked in the ATP top 10 at Masters 1000 events since the format was introduced in 1990. Nadal, Alcaraz and Holger Rune were the other ATP stars to accomplish the feat.

Mensik will face 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic, who he has named as his biggest idol, in the Miami Open final.

Djokovic is seeking his seventh Miami crown, a record-extending 41st Masters 1000 title and his 100th ATP Tour singles title overall.

Mensik was beaten by Djokovic in three sets in the quarter-finals at the 2024 Shanghai Masters in the pair’s only previous showdown.

On facing Djokovic for second time, Mensik said: “I’m actually a different player (compared to the match in Shanghai).

“I was kind of nervous. I’m not saying that I would not be on Sunday. I was not able to hold my nerves very well in the match. I’ve just grown up a little mentally.

“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.”

The age gap of 18 years and 102 days between 19-year-old Mensik and 38-year-old Djokovic will be the biggest-ever in a Masters 1000 final.

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Jessica Pegula banished her Miami Open demons with a gutsy semi-final win over tournament breakout star Alex Eala on Thursday.

After previous semi-final defeats in 2022 and 2023, and a quarter-final loss twelve months ago, a 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3 victory over teen sensation Eala powered the American into a first final at the tournament.

It is a third final of 2025 for Pegula, and the US star will lift her eighth career title – and fourth WTA 1000 title – should she beat world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday.

However, it is not just the title at stake for Pegula.

The 31-year-old has been handed a golden opportunity to replace Coco Gauff as the US No 1.

Points surge

The US has an incredibly strong presence towards the top of the WTA Tour, with Gauff, Pegula, and Madison Keys ranked world No 3, No 4, and No 5, respectively.

Gauff and Pegula have been established figures inside the top 10 for numerous seasons now, with Keys surging to a new career-high of world No 5 after a stunning Australian Open triumph in January.

Heading into the Miami Open, Gauff held 6,063 ranking points, with world No 4 Pegula on 5,361 points and Keys just behind on 5,004 points.

However, things have fallen into place perfectly for Pegula in Miami.

The world No 4 has, for now, moved up to 5,796 points in the WTA Live Rankings, earning an extra 435 ranking points after bettering last year’s quarter-final exit with her run to the final this fortnight.

That has helped increase her lead over world No 5 Keys significantly, with the Australian Open champion falling to 4,949 points after a shock round-three exit to Eala; she had reached round four in 2024.

And, Pegula now has Gauff’s world No 3 – and US No 1 – ranking in her sights.

Gauff fell in the fourth round of the Miami Open for the second straight year, meaning she stays on 6,063 points, having dropped 270 points in Indian Wells a fortnight ago.

Pegula has closed the gap significantly over the past month and, if she were to win Saturday’s final, would move above her compatriot in the rankings.

Victory over Sabalenka would mean Pegula holds 6,146 ranking points come Monday – moving back to her career-high of world No 3, and knocking Gauff back down to No 4.

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Pegula’s challenge

The equation for Pegula is a simple one, but beating Sabalenka is not going to be a straightforward task.

World No 1 Sabalenka has now won more matches than anyone else on the WTA Tour this year and is already in a fourth final of 2025.

Though she was beaten in both the Australian Open and Indian Wells finals, she was the Brisbane International champion back in January, and is perhaps the favourite to lift a first Miami Open title.

That is part due to her form and position as the world No 1, though Sabalenka also has a strong head-to-head record against Pegula.

The Belarusian leads their head-to-head 6-2, and has won their last two meetings.

Those matches were a 6-3, 7-5 victory in the Cincinnati Open final last August, and then a 7-5, 7-5 win in an enthralling US Open final just weeks later.

Both those contests were close matches, but Sabalenka appears to have another level compared to most of the WTA field when it comes to hard-court tennis, and it will be tricky for Pegula to counteract that.

Should Pegula win the final, she could then also lose the US No 1 ranking after just one week.

There would be just 83 points between her and Gauff in the rankings, while she has 195 semi-final points to defend next week at the Charleston Open.

Read Next: WTA Rankings Winners & Losers Miami Open: Raducanu top 50, Eala +65, Sabalenka hits new milestone

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