Jakub Mensik pulled off a remarkable feat by capturing his first career title with a solid 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4) victory over the legendary Novak Djokovic in the Miami Open final on Sunday. This triumph was all the more impressive considering the Czech teenager almost didn’t play due to a flare-up in his right knee.
Mensik, just 19 years old, was close to withdrawing right before his first match against Roberto Bautista Agut. On his way to inform the officials of his decision, he discovered the referee was out for lunch, prompting a change of plans and a visit to the physio instead.
“It was a pretty serious inflammation,” Mensik shared with reporters. “I could barely walk, let alone run.”
Describing his state, Mensik said, “I started treatment and took painkillers, but nothing seemed to work. On match day, it was no different. I tried running on a treadmill and couldn’t move. I thought, ‘This is it. I’m out.'”
He continued, “I went to the referee to pull out but found him on a lunch break. So, I headed over to the physio and said, ‘My knee’s killing me. Let’s do the paper work. I’m done.'”
The physio treatment and reassurances that the issue wasn’t severe gave Mensik a glimmer of hope. “I thought, ‘Alright, one more shot.’ Even though it hurt, I pushed through,” he explained.
“Eventually, I felt some relief. I took different painkillers that worked a bit. With just 30 minutes until the match, I thought, ‘I can walk, I can run. Let’s give it a go.'”
Somehow, Mensik won his first-round match and was fortunate to have a rest day afterward, which his knee gratefully needed. Each day, as his knee improved, so did his game.
Energized from his Miami win, Mensik is eager for more.
“Being just 19, there’s a whole career ahead,” he pointed out with excitement. “Seeing this trophy here feels incredible, but it’s not just about this title or this tournament – I’m hungry for more.”
