Jakub Mensik is in Florida looking to defend the biggest title of his career.
The 20-year-old Czech produced a superb run at the 2025 Miami Open, defeating Jack Draper and Novak Djokovic on his way to title glory.
This year, the Czech player is seeded 12th and has been granted an automatic bye through to the second round.
Despite being the defending champion, our recent TalkingPoints poll suggests Tennishead readers have little faith in Mensik retaining his title.
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Jakub Mensik should not be underestimated in Miami
As per the TalkingPoints poll, only 0.58 per cent of Tennishead readers believe Jakub Mensik will win the Miami Open.
Jannik Sinner is currently the favourite with 52 per cent of the vote, while Carlos Alcaraz is in second with 33.5 per cent.
Indian Wells finalist Daniil Medvedev is a distant third, having garnered a little over seven per cent of the vote.
Tennishead readers on who they think will win the Miami Open…
| Player | % of Vote |
| Jannik Sinner | 52.19 |
| Carlos Alcaraz | 33.53 |
| Daniil Medvedev | 7.29 |
| Other | 3.5 |
| Alexander Zverev | 2.33 |
| Taylor Fritz | 0.58 |
| Jakub Mensik | 0.58 |
It seems the young Czech star is being underestimated.
As proven by his title triumph in 2025, Jakub Mensik’s game is tailor made for the Miami Open.
The quick hard courts perfectly suit Mensik’s powerful serve and groundstrokes, while also limiting the effectiveness of his peers who thrive in slower conditions: such as Carlos Alcaraz.
Mensik is also the only young talent to have claimed multiple top-10 victories on the ATP Tour.
As mentioned already, Mensik beat Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper at the 2025 Miami Open, and has already defeated Jannik Sinner this year – at the Qatar Open.
Mensik’s ability is undeniable: he proved so by winning the 2025 Miami Open.
To underestimate him at this year’s event would be a mistake.
Jakub Mensik nearly withdrew before the 2025 Miami Open
Mensik’s 2025 Miami Open campaign almost didn’t happen.
The Czech star was dealing with a knee issue before the event, but after checking with doctors, he decided to press ahead.
“I mean, two days before the first match, I started to feel my knee,” Mensik said after winning the title. “I checked with the doctors, with everyone.
“There was nothing spectacular. It was just a big inflammation, which was really big that I couldn’t walk even, that I couldn’t run, even walk.
“Yeah, actually, I started to treat it, started to take painkillers. Nothing was helping. Actually during the match day it was the same, like, it was day before.
If you were in charge of tennis, what is the first rule you would change?
“So I was, like, okay, well, I tried to step on the treadmill. I couldn’t move. I was, like, Okay, well, that’s it. I’m pulling out.
“I didn’t do anything. I just went to the doctor’s office, take the paper. I was going to the physios while I was visiting the referees office to say, Guys, I’m pulling out.
“But he was having lunch. So, okay, let’s visit the physios first. I was there. I said, Hey, my knee is hurting. Just fill the paper. I’m going. I’m going.
“It was, like, Well, okay, let’s see.
“He started to do a couple of treatments, take care of for 30 minutes of me. Okay, try this, try this, let’s see.
“I was, like, okay. Actually he was saying me, It’s nothing serious. You can play with this pain and nothing can happen.
“So it’s, like, okay, the pain was so big that I couldn’t do anything. I was, like, okay, let’s try one more time. I stepped on the treadmill. It was the same. But I went over the pain. Really I was suffering in those moments.
“Yeah, after, you know, few minutes I was starting to feel little relief. Took different painkillers which helped a little bit. I was, like, Okay, let’s try it. It’s like 30 minutes before the match. I can walk. I can run. Let’s see.
“Somehow I won the first round, and basically then I had one day off, which of course for my knee was much more better. Day-by-day the knee was getting better and with that also my game.
“Crazy, huh?”
