Djokovic Reacts After Miami Open Final Loss to Mensik
Novak Djokovic endured a disappointing defeat in the Miami Open final on Sunday, losing to 19-year-old Jakub Mensik. The Serbian had hoped to secure his 100th ATP Tour title and a record-extending seventh Miami Open trophy, but the young Czech stunned him with a brilliant performance.
Despite the loss, Djokovic was gracious in defeat and praised Mensik for his incredible progress.
Djokovic: “I’m Happy to Lose to Mensik”
Speaking after the match, Djokovic congratulated Mensik and reflected on their past training sessions.
“Congratulations to Mensik and his team. I’m never happy to lose, but he’s one of the very few players I would be happier to lose to, to be honest,” Djokovic said. “I saw him play when he was 15 or 16 and invited him to train with me. He was at my club in Belgrade, and to see his development and evolution is amazing.”
Djokovic first noticed Mensik during the 2022 Australian Open boys’ final and was impressed by his talent. The Serbian reached out to Mensik’s team, arranging for him to train with him.
“I could see back then that he was going to be one of the top players in the world,” Djokovic added. “I’m glad he’s using his potential. He’s got a complete game—his serve is powerful and precise, his backhand is great, and he’s improved his forehand a lot. His movement for a tall player is impressive, and I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of him.”
Djokovic Struggled with Conditions But Refuses Excuses
The final was delayed by nearly six hours due to rain, and Djokovic appeared to struggle with an issue under his right eye, frequently using eye drops. However, he refused to blame external factors for his defeat.
“It is what it is. It’s the same for both players,” Djokovic said. “I tried to make the most out of what I had, but today was quite different from any other day of the tournament for me.”
A Strong Run Despite the Loss
Djokovic remains positive about his performance in Miami, where he reached the final without dropping a set.
“Overall, there’s obviously a bitter taste because of the loss,” he admitted. “But Miami brought me a lot of joy. The support from the fans was incredible. They tried to push me for a comeback, and I’m very grateful.”
While Djokovic fell short of his 100th career title, he remains one of the top contenders on tour. With the clay court season approaching, the world will be watching to see how he responds.
