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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