Jakub Mensik has reached his first Masters 1000 final after a thrilling victory over Taylor Fritz at the Miami Open, winning 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(4). The 19-year-old Czech became the first player from his country to advance to a Masters 1000 final since Tomas Berdych in 2015.
Mensik’s powerful serve was a key factor in his win, as he fired 25 aces during the two-and-a-half-hour battle. His incredible run in Miami has also placed him in the tournament’s history books—he is now the third-lowest-ranked finalist and the third-youngest to ever reach the Miami Open final, following Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz.
Now, Mensik will face his idol, Novak Djokovic, in the biggest match of his career. The two previously met in Shanghai last year, where Mensik took the opening set before falling in three. This time, he believes he is a better player and is eager to challenge the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
“It feels incredible. For me, it was a dream to play against him in Shanghai,” Mensik told the ATP website. “Now, it’s a bit different. I am a better player, and I’m going to enjoy it. It’s going to be really exciting. Let’s see what happens on Sunday.”
If Mensik wins, he will prevent Djokovic from securing his milestone 100th career title in what promises to be a thrilling showdown.