Novak Djokovic once invited Miami conqueror Jakub Mensik to train with him

Novak Djokovic shared that he once invited his Miami Open conqueror Jakub Mensik to train with him. Teenager Mensik, 19, denied Djokovic a 100th career ATP title with an upset 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4) victory over the 24-time grand slam winner.

Mensik consequently became the lowest-ranked player to win the men's singles title at the Miami Open (#54), lifting his first ATP Tour title in the process.

Moreover, he is the second teenager outside the ATP's top 20 to win an ATP Masters 1000 event after Michael Chang (#24, Toronto 1990).

Speaking after the defeat, Djokovic revealed how he reached out to Mensik's management team after seeing him lose the Australian Open boys final in 2022.

"Congratulations to Mensik and his team. 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 said.

"I have seen him play when he was 15 or 16 and invited him, we had some training blocks together. He was training at my club in Belgrade, and to see his development and evolution is really great, amazing.

"I could see back then already - three, four years ago - that he's going to be one of the top players of the world.

"I'm super glad that he's using the potential that he has, because he's got the complete game. Obviously his serve is incredible, powerful, precise, wins a lot of free points with the first serve.

"Backhand, as well. Czech school, they always have a great backhand. But forehand, he's improved a lot. And movement for a tall, big guy like that, he slides and moves well. He still can improve, of course. So I'm sure we'll be seeing him around."

Djokovic had actually faced Mensik in Shanghai last year, losing a tie-break on that occasion too before recovering to win.

"I think he was serving even better than he was serving in Shanghai, and there he was serving really well," Djokovic added.

"I think game was similar, but my level was not like it was in Shanghai."