Who is Jakub Mensik? All you need to know about Czech teenage tennis star

The 19-year-old Jakub Mensik has become an overnight sensation thanks to his recent performances.

Jakub Mensik is a name doing the rounds in the world of men’s tennis. The Czech teenager recently grabbed the headlines after stunning his idol and mentor Novak Djokovic in the Miami Open final, for his maiden ATP tour level title. Mensik, 19, is a rising superstar in men’s tennis and his recent achievement indicates a promising future for the youngster.

There is an increasing curiosity revolving around Jakub Mensik and what makes him one of the most promising talents in the men’s tennis circuit. From beating his idol and winning the prestigious Miami Open title to dedicating the win to his parents and more, here is everything one ought to know about the young Czech tennis star:

Early days in the sport

Jakub Mensik started quite early, picking up the tennis racquet when he was merely a five-year-old kid. He saw other athletes near his locality and picked up a keen interest in the sport. His first-ever coach, Ivo Müller, played a crucial role in his development as a sportsperson.

In his early days as a professional, he reached the final of the 2022 Junior Australian Open but lost to Bruno Kuzuhara. Later on, he won the 2023 Sparta Prague Open defeating Dominik Koepfer, becoming the youngest Czech winner at 17-year-old of an ATP Challenger event.

He reached his first ATP tour level final in Doha 2024. Upon reaching the final, he became the youngest Czech finalist and the first ATP finalist born in 2005 or later. 

Mensik is still a budding talent, despite his breathtaking performance at the 2025 Miami Open. It was only his second ATP Tour final and the first-ever ATP Tour title. Winning an ATP Masters 1000 event is an already difficult task but to achieve it by defeating the greatest athlete to play the sport takes immeasurable courage.

Also Read: Top seven youngest ATP Tour champions in Open Era

A giant killer

Jakub Mensik’s meteoric rise in the world of tennis is highlighted by his ability to punch above his weight. He has made it a habit of defeating higher-ranked players, with Djokovic becoming his latest victim. To put it into perspective, the age gap between Mensik and Djokovic is 18 years and 102 days, the largest between two ATP Masters finalists.

The Czech tennis star beat Andrey Rublev, then World No. #5, in Doha in 2024, on his way to the finals. Players like Andy Murray and Gael Monfils have also suffered defeats at the hands of Mensik. 

On his to winning the prestigious Miami Open, Mensik eliminated the likes of 17th seed Arthur Fils and third seed Taylor Fritz in the quarter-final and semi-final respectively, before ultimately beating the fourth seed Djokovic in the final.

Also Read: Top five youngest men’s singles players to win ATP 1000 title

One to watch out

Jakub Mensik is ranked #24 in the ATP Rankings (men’s singles) at the time of writing. With age on his side, he is likely going to improve as a player over time. As men’s tennis heads into a new era, one can be assured that Mensik is going to be at the centre of it all. 

One could say that Jakub Mensik beating his idol in the final was symbolic of the passing of the torch. The winner of the 2025 Miami Open will have his eyes set on winning a Grand Slam next and it is a matter of when and not if considering his consistent improvement as a player.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram