They say age is just a number but when 18 years separates two opponents, it could be more than just a number.
The final was delayed for five and a half hours because of rain but then after two hours three minutes of some grinding tennis in humid conditions, the Miami Open crowned a new champion, the seventh different winner in the last seven years of the tournament. Jakub Mensik at 19 years and some months has defeated the nearly 38-year-old Novak Djokovic 7-6, 7-6 to win his first career title.
This match up was the biggest age gape at a Masters 1000 final in the series history which began in 1990 and the biggest age gap at any tour level final since legendary Ken Rosewall at 41 defeated 22-year-old Raul Ramirez in 1976.
"(I'm) probably all smiles," Mensik said. "Yeah, I mean, it's a bit, I think that the feelings will come a little bit later, but for now, yeah, it just feels incredible. I'm living the moment, living the dream.
"I was expecting to fall already, you know, point before. But I saw it, it was out. You know, oh, that's it. It was actually in. Okay, well, let's go one more time. (Laughter.) So, after that, just the relief went out of me. I mean, after the match with Taylor, I was not able to sleep for two days. I was feeling, you know, nerves. I was trying to hold it, of course, but yeah, I mean, with this final doing for the first time and everything, it's just very, very tough.
"So of course, yeah, I mean, after that, just everything went away of me. Just pure happiness, pure emotions. And of course during the match, you know, I had couple of flashbacks also in Shanghai, I won the first set 7-6, so I didn't play well in the beginning of the second set in Shanghai, which I tried to stay focused, stay all the time on my serve, which I did, and I'm really glad, because otherwise playing third set against him, it would be tough.
"So, it's just, I took the experience from the Shanghai (Rolex Shanghai Masters) match and tried my best to do it as good as I can in here."
The result denied Djokovic from winning his 100th career title; if he had he would have become just the third man after Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) to cross triple digits with titles.
Djokovic just did not look right physically in the match, he was doubled over on occasions after tough points and it appeared that he had a sty on his right eye, but he would not use that as excuses.
"I really prefer not to talk about -- there is quite a few things, but I prefer not to... just congratulate him," Djokovic said. "That's it. I don't want to sound like I'm giving excuses here for my loss.
"(But) overall obviously now bitter taste because of the loss, but Miami, as I said on the court, really brought me a lot of joy and really good sensations on and off the court. I was very welcomed very nicely by people and supported. Incredible again tonight, great support from the stadium in the match. They were pushing me on and trying to give me strength for a comeback.
"Very grateful. Just enjoyed my experience overall. It was amazing run. Unfortunately ended with a loss in the finals, but I played some really good tennis up to today."
The Miami Open was celebrating its 40th anniversary and Mensik became just the second man to win the title unseeded wit the first being American Tim Mayotte in the tournament's debut year, 1985.
The Czech is the seventh from that nation to reach a Masters 1000 final and he is now the first since Tomas Berdych in 2005 at the Rolex Paris Masters to win one and he is the second Czech after Ivan Lendl to win the Miami Open.
The doubles title was claimed by top seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic, defeating 6th seeds Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool 7-6, 6-3. As a team this is their sixth title together. It's been a huge month for Arevalo and Pavic as they also won Indian Wells and became the sixth team and the first since Pierre Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut in 2016, to clinch the "Sunshine Double"
