Teenage party breaker ruins it for Djokovic, denying him 100th title

Teenager sensation Jakub Mensik denied his childhood idol Novak Djokovic a 100th ATP singles title last night as he won the Miami Open.

The 19-year-old Czech beat the Serbian giant 2-0 (7-6, 7-6) to clinch his first senior ATP Tour title.

The 37-year-old Djokovic was on the verge of becoming the third man in the Open era to win 100 singles titles, but he'll have to wait a bit more as Mensik denied him the milestone.

Mensik, who was just 10 months old when Djokovic won his first title in 2006, is the third-youngest in Miami after Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal.

Djokovic invited Mensik to practice with him after the 2022 Australian Open when he was still a junior, and Mensik said in his postmatch speech that Djokovic was "the reason he was here".

Mensik also thanked his physiotherapist, who treated him for a knee injury that almost led to him withdrawing in the first round in Miami.

"One hour before my first match here I was holding the paper to pull out from the tournament," Mensik said.

"I was just lucky that the referee was having lunch.

"I came for the treatment. He did a miracle and because of him I'm standing here."

Djokovic congratulated Mensik at the end of the match and said afterwards: "It hurts me to admit it but you were better.

"I wish you the best of luck. Maybe you'll let me win one of the next times we play."