Losing the final match is never easy, especially on the notable scene. Jakub Mensik denied Novak Djokovic's 100th ATP title at the Miami Open, prevailing over the legend 7-6, 7-6 in two hours and three minutes for his first ATP title at 19.
Reflecting the match and his Miami Open campaign, Djokovic admitted a slight bitterness following a tight loss. The legend called it a bad luck but praised his rival's performance, taking nothing away from Mensik's triumph.
Novak like how he performed in Florida after three straight losses. The Serb gathered positive vibes and will try to use them during the clay swing.
Novak beat five rivals and reached his first ATP final of the season. However, he experienced an eye infection on the semi-final day.The six-time winner defeated Grigor Dimitrov before falling to a teenager in the final after a massive battle.
Novak and Jakub had to wait for hours to start the match due to rain delay. They played in tough conditions and still gave their best in a high-quality encounter. We saw two breaks in the opening set, and they served well by the end of the duel to stay neck and neck.
The veteran and a teenager split 152 points as nothing separated them. However, Mensik played at a higher level in both tie breaks to lift a notable trophy and write history. Novak made a slow start. He missed a forehand in the second game of the duel and suffered the only break.
Jakub controlled an early pace in his first Masters 1000 final, producing fine holds and opening a 4-1 advantage. Djokovic bounced back and erased the deficit in game seven when his rival sprayed a backhand error. The 37-year-old held in the next one for 4-4.
They served well in the remaining games and introduced a tie break. Jakub landed a winner after a lucky net cord in the second point for an early lead. The young gun welcomed a couple of loose shots from the legend and forged a 5-0 advantage.
Mensik hit a smash winner in the eighth point for 6-2 and seized the third set point with another, wrapping up the first part of the duel in 55 minutes. Jakub gathered a boost and provided six comfortable holds in the second set.
Djokovic played against two break points in the fifth game. Facing the exit door, world no. 5 denied them and held to remain on the positive side. They provided seven fine holds in the remaining games to introduce another tie break.
Jakub forged an early lead thanks to Novak's backhand errors. The Czech moved 3-2 up after an extended rally and fired a service winner in the next one. Djokovic claimed the seventh point on the return before netting a forehand and falling 5-3 behind.
The six-time winner netted a routine backhand in the ninth point and faced three match points. Jakub seized the second with a service winner, celebrating his first Masters 1000 title at 19.
"I left Miami with a slight bitterness from losing the final. However, I played a high-quality match against Jakub. I served and performed well. There's always bad luck when you lose in two tie breaks, but I have to admit that Jakub played better than me.
My Miami performance gives me a lot of encouragement and positive vibes ahead of the clay swing," Novak Djokovic said.
