Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic celebrates after defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia.. Photos by AFP
Jakub Mensik claimed the first title of his career with a 7-6(4) 7-6(4) win over Novak Djokovic in the Miami Open final on Sunday but the Czech teenager revealed he had nearly pulled out of the tournament due to inflammation in his right knee.
Shortly before his opener against Roberto Bautista Agut, the 19-year-old was on his way to the referee’s room to announce his withdrawal but found that the official was out for lunch, and he visited the physio’s room instead.
“It was just a big inflammation. I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t run,” Mensik told reporters.
“I started to treat it, started to take painkillers. Nothing was helping. During matchday it was the same … I tried to step on the treadmill. I couldn’t move. I was like, ‘Okay, well, that’s it. I’m pulling out’.
“… I was visiting the referee’s office to say
Guys, I’m pulling out’, but he was having lunch. So okay, let’s visit the physio first. I was there and I said, ‘Hey, my knee is hurting. Just fill the paper. I’m going’.”
Mensik said that the physio worked on his knee and deemed that it was not a serious problem.
“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.
“After a few minutes I started to feel a little relief. I took different painkillers, which helped a little bit. I was like, ‘Okay, let’s try it. It’s like 30 minutes before the match. I can walk. I can run. Let’s see’.
“Somehow I won the first round and basically then I had one day off, which of course, for my knee was much more better. Day by day the knee was getting better and with that also my game.”
Mensik hoped his Miami title would be the first of many.
“I’m still 19, so I have all of my career in front of me,” he added. “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.”
The 54th-ranked Mensik faced tough odds in only his second ATP final but harnessed his best weapon to subdue the 24-time major winner with 14 aces and collapsed onto the court, overcome with emotion, after sealing it with an unreturnable serve.
“When I was young I started to play tennis because of you,” Mensik said to his opponent at the trophy ceremony. “There is no harder task for a tennis player than to beat you in the finals of a tournament.”
