Miami Open: Unseeded teenager Jakub Menšík denies idol Novak Djokovic his 100th career title

#1st of many."

And the new world No.24, who nearly pulled out before the tournament with a knee injury, wrote on the TV camera

I was just lucky then that the referee was having lunch,

he said

I'm still 19, so I have all of my career in front of me. It feels great to have this (trophy) next to me, but it's not just about the one title, one tournament. I'm hungry for more."

Mensik said

Jakub Menšíkczech teenager

I was like, 'okay, let's try one more time. I stepped on the treadmill and it was the same. But I went over the pain. I was suffering in those moments,

Mensik added

Jakub Menšíkczech teenager

I was like OK, well let's just visit the physios. I told them, 'my knee is hurting, I filled out the paper and I'm going',

Mensik added in his post-match press conference

I didn’t feel my greatest on the court.”

However, he said

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,

he said

I'm never really happy to lose, but he's one of the very few players that I would be happier to lose to, to be honest,

Djokovic told reporters

Jakub Menšíkczech teenager

When I was young I started to play tennis because of you,

Mensik said to his opponent at the trophy ceremony

I came for treatment, needed a miracle,

said Mensik

Novak Djokovicchildhood idol

It hurts me to admit it but you were better,

said Djokovic, who had previously invited Mensik to train with him after the then-16-year-old reached the Australian Open juniors final in 2022

To be honest, I don't know what to say. It feels incredible, obviously,

he said in on-court remarks

It was very windy today, very difficult to control the ball, changing direction all the time, but I had good serves and held my nerves,

Djokovic said