Novak Djokovic Faces New Wonderkid in Miami Final Showdown
Locker Room
March 29, 2025
Novak Djokovic faces a tougher test than many will suspect when he goes in search of a century in Miami.
And Sir Andy Murray will have his work cut out to help the Serb figure out a way to stop an amazing teenager.
Novak Djokovic and Sir Andy Murray look to be developing a tennis partnership set to last all the way into Wimbledon 2025.
And they will need all their combined brainpower to prevail on Sunday.
Djokovic is on the verge of securing his 100th career title. That would end a barren run stretching back to last summer.
But his opponent in the Miami final is Jakub Mensik. And the sensational Czech showed tremendous nerve in the big moments to see off home-grown Taylor Fritz 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 7-6 (7-4).
Like Indian Wells champion Jack Draper earlier in the tournament, Fritz didn’t do much wrong. But Mensik uses a fearsome serve to dig himself out of trouble.
His crisp stroke-play is relaxed and lethal. He has a deadly drop-shot in the locker too.
It will be fascinating to see whether Djokovic and Murray can come up with a winning strategy against a seemingly unstoppable 19-year-old.
Novak Djokovic and Jakub Mensik might continue their rivalry at Wimbledon 2025. And young Jakub must now be viewed as a contender there too.
The underdog understands his extraordinary rate of improvement. Novak beat him convincingly in Shanghai last year. But Mensik’s progress has been rapid.
‘I am a much better player now than I was then,’ the youngster said confidently.
But Djokovic should be full of confidence and energy too after he managed to dispose of Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-3.
And at the age of 37, a quick victory was definitely needed, as Novak became the oldest player to reach the final of at ATP Masters 1000 event.
Djokovic reflected: ‘Ever since I won my 99th title at the Olympic Games in Paris, I’ve been playing with the prospect of winning the special 100 titles.
‘I’ve found the necessary level and I was very happy with the way I prepared for the tournament. I haven’t dropped a set.’
If Mensik is overawed by the big occasion, then Novak can realise his dream. But Jakub only seemed star-struck by meeting football great Lionel Messi backstage.
He explained: ‘Meeting a legend, not even a human, it’s not happening every day. I didn’t wash the hand he shook.’
Now Jakub is about to meet another legend. But ominously for Djokovic, Mensik doesn’t seem worried at all.
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