Novak Djokovic is preparing for his 18th Monte Carlo Masters campaign. The 37-year-old will kick off the action in the second round against Alejandro Tabilo or Stan Wawrinka. Novak hopes for more good matches after reaching the Miami Open final.
Djokovic chased his 100th ATP title against the young gun Jakub Mensik and experienced a tight 7-6, 7-6 loss in two hours and three minutes. Speaking about Miami, the Serb revealed what bothered him in the closing stages of the event.
Novak played the final with a swollen right eye, catching the viral infection that reduced his performance. However, the 24-time Major winner did not want to speak about it in Miami, praising Mensik and calling him a deserved winner.
L’œil de Novak semble toujours être gonflé 😐
pic.twitter.com/gkWZR6VNfp
— TennisTemple (@tennistemple) April 6, 2025
Djokovic’s eye issues started on the semi-final day. However, he did not slow down because of that, toppling his great friend Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-3 and cruising into his 60th Masters 1000 final. Novak gave everything against Jakub but fell short in the pivotal moments.
The final started late due to rain, and the two rivals competed in difficult conditions. However, they served well and traded only two breaks in the opening set, staying neck and neck from start to finish. Djokovic and Mensik claimed 76 points each.
However, a teenager outplayed the veteran in both tie breaks to lift his first ATP title on the big scene. Novak suffered an early break in the second game of the duel after a forehand error. The Czech served well and built a 4-1 advantage for a reliable start and a boost.
Still, Novak stepped in on the return in the seventh game and welcomed the rival’s backhand mistake to pull the break back and return to the positive side. There were no chances for the returners in the next five games as they arranged a tie break.
Jakub secured a mini-break in the second point after a lucky net cord and a behind-the-back volley winner. Djokovic sprayed a couple of errors and fell 5-0 behind. The 19-year-old placed a smash winner in the eighth point and generated four set points.
Mensik converted the third with another smash winner, securing the opener in 55 minutes and gaining confidence. The Czech served well in the second set and kept the pressure on the Serb. Novak faced issues at 2-2 and offered his rival two break points.
He denied them and closed the game to remain in contention. Those were the last chances for the returners, and the two rivals introduced another tie break. Djokovic started it with backhand mistakes before causing Mensik’s mistake and erasing the deficit.
Jakub claimed an extended rally in the fifth point and grabbed the next one to open a 4-2 gap. Novak pulled the mini-break back in the seventh point before netting a forehand in the next one to find himself 5-3 behind.
The legend netted a backhand in the ninth point and faced three match points. Jakub seized the second with a service winner, celebrating his first ATP title over his idol.
“My viral infection issues started on the semi-final day in Miami. I struggled with it in the title clash, but it’s calming down. I rediscovered the joy of competing in Miami, and I played well. I aim to win as many possible matches on clay ahead of Roland Garros and try to peak in Paris,” Novak Djokovic said.
