Novak Djokovic failed to win a 100th career ATP title this Sunday as he lost in the final of the 2025 Miami Open to Czech teenager Jakub Menšík in straight sets 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4). The veteran Serb was looking to catch up with Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103), who are the only two players in the Open Era to win 100+ ATP titles.
Menšík, playing in his first ATP Masters 1000 tournament, defeated top-ranked players in Jack Draper and Taylor Fritz en route to the final, while Djokovic had a relatively easier run and beat Lorenzo Musetti and Grigor Dimitrov.
After a delay of five-and-a-half hours, the match started. Djokovic struggled with eye trouble and humidity, while the Czech youngster soon found rhythm, breaking Djokovic in the second game. Djokovic came back to break Menšík’s serve in the seventh game and took the first set to a tie-break.
Menšík raced to a 5-0 lead in the tie-break, with the 24-time Grand Slam champion looking visibly frustrated. Menšík held his nerve to win the first-set tie-break with an overhead smash. The second set went close as well, but the 19-year-old used his pace and strength to his advantage. Djokovic used his experience to save two break points in the fifth game but went down in the second-set tie-break, losing the match.
With this victory, Menšík became the second-youngest player after Carlos Alcaraz to win the Miami Open.
In the on-court interview after the match, Menšík said:
“It was not the first time I’ve played against Novak. There is no harder task in tennis than to beat him in the finals. But of course, I felt really great and it’s my time, so I just tried to focus on the match like I did before in previous rounds.
“To be honest I don’t know what to say. It feels incredible, obviously. It was probably the biggest day of my life and I did super, which I’m really glad [about], to show the performance and keep the nerves outside of the court before the match. I feel just super happy and I think that the feelings will come later.“
Djokovic said:
“This is Jakub’s moment — moment of his team, moment of his family. Congratulations, unbelievable tournament. It hurts me to admit it, but you were better! In the clutch moments, you delivered the goods [with] unbelievable serving and just a phenomenal effort mentally as well to stay tough in a difficult moment.“
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