Djokovic to play Dimitrov in one semi; Mensik draws American Fritz
03.28.25
By Harvey Fialkov
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Three months ago, Jakub Mensik defeated Arthur Fils in the Next Gen ATP Finals round-robin tournament with a 3-of-5 short-set to four games format that featured projected stars of the future.
Fast forward to Thursday afternoon on a sun-splashed Stadium Court at the Miami Open Masters 1000 presented by Itaú, the two Next Gen rivals were battling it out for a spot in the semifinals.
Appropriately, huge tennis fan singer Jon Bon Jovi was in the stands watching these young guns, for he wrote the Young Guns II soundtrack for the movie, “Blaze of Glory.”
Unfortunately, for Fils, the 20-year-old fatigued Frenchman, was mirroring a Jackson Browne hit, “Running on Empty,” and was shooting blanks — particularly in the lopsided second set — while his fresh 19-year-old Czech opponent was firing 13 aces at key moments in a 7-6 (5), 6-1 victory.
“Everything is happening in the right time, so of course last year I had great runs on some of the tournaments,’’ Mensik said in a deep monotone voice. “This year as well. Everything is happening for a reason. … Never is too late; never is too early.”
Mensik will play American hope Taylor Fritz, the third seed living in Miami, who needed seven match points to conquer resurgent Italian Matteo Berrettini in three dramatic sets, 7-5, 6-7 (7), 7-5 in arguably the highest-level match of the tournament in a packed Stadium Court.
In their lone meeting Fritz lost just three games in three sets in the round of 32 at the 2023 US Open, when Mensik was just 17.
“I feel great,’’ said Fritz, who’s into his sixth Masters 1000 semifinal (1-4) with a chance to become the 12th American to reach the finals in both the Indian Wells (2022 champion) and Miami since 1985. “Obviously, I gave myself a lot of chances throughout the match. I wish I could have made it happen in the second set.
“I think I made it extremely tough for myself. He raised his level and played really well in the third, so I had to work, you know, extra hard to win the third set and raise my level, as well. After not closing it out, not winning those match points, I think I showed one of my biggest strengths in resetting and being able to win the third.”
Fritz, 27, is 5-0 against Berrettini, but this was a cliffhanger until the 225th point when the 2021 Wimbledon finalist’s backhand sailed into the doubles alley. Fritz, the lone American left in the men’s draw, let out a screaming, “Come on, let’s go! He hopes to lift the trophy on Sunday to be the first stars and stripes player to win here since John Isner in 2018.
In a serving clinic, Berrettini cracked 17 aces with no double-faults to Fritz’ 16 aces and three doubles. Berrettini won 75 percent of his mammoth first bombs to Fritz’ 79 percent. In an exquisitely clean match, Berrettini ripped 41 winners, mostly with his lethal forehand, and Fritz nailed 38 winners to just 25 errors.
Meanwhile, 37-year-old Novak Djokovic, the fourth seed, continues to mimic daylight saving time by turning back the clock in another vintage performance for the slender Serb in dispatching young American Sebastian Korda, 6-3, 7-6 (4) of Bradenton.
Djokovic served an amazing 83 percent on first serves while winning 86 percent of those points to go with 11 aces while facing just one break point in advancing to his record-extending 80th Masters 1000 semifinal (40 titles). He’s the oldest player to reach the semis in tournament history (1985) and is 8-0 in quarterfinals in Miami.
“It’s his placement, the way he covers it,’’ said the 24-year-old Korda, now 0-2 against Djokovic and 2-13 against players in the Top 5. “You don’t know where the hell he’s going with it. It’s unlike anyone else. Pretty tough to play against someone when they’re serving that great.”
Korda deals with chronic wrist issues and also had elbow surgery after last summer’s US Open.
After dropping just one point on his serve in the opening set, Djokovic roared back from 0-3 and 2-4 in the second set with a critical break on a pinpoint backhand down the line followed by a penetrating inside-out forehand that Korda dumped into the net. Djokovic let out a scream with a fist pump that was emulated by renowned rival turned coach Andy Murray in the players’ box.
In the tiebreaker, Djokovic went into his trademark lockdown mindset and broke at 2-2 with a howitzer forehand before delivering his final ace to end the 81-minute match. He bellowed and simulated playing the violin for his musical daughter Tara.
“Serving, probably the best serving performance in this tournament and in a long time,’’ said Djokovic, the all-time percentage leader in tiebreakers (67), including 3-0 this week without dropping a set.
“When I needed a first serve I did it in the tiebreaker. Four service winners to 6-4 and ended the match with an ace, so it makes it easier on the court when you’re feeling your serve well. I particularly needed it in the second set when Korda was feeling his groundstrokes much better than the first.”
Djokovic is shooting for his 100th title, but first since November 2023 at the Nitto ATP Finals, where he polished off Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in the semis and final respectively.
“Performances like this obviously, motivates me, encourages me to keep going,’’ said Djokovic, who is also aiming to break the tie with Andre Agassi and win his record seventh Miami Open title.
Djokovic’s win following the Next Gen matchup creates an ‘Old Gen’ semifinal on Friday around 3 p.m., with good friend, Grigor Dimitrov. Djokovic has dominated the classy Bulgarian with a 12-1 mark, including 10 consecutive wins dating back to 2013; and is 8-0 on hard courts.
Dimitrov, 33, is one huge step away from duplicating last year’s final appearance in Miami, but needed a wheelchair to get off the court after edging Argentine Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 in the third Wednesday night. He was dehydrated and dizzy.
Djokovic said they’re staying in the same hotel and have communicated. He felt the day off should help the Bulgarian recover in time for their encounter.
“He’s been enjoying himself in Miami, reaching last year’s finals and now,’’ Djokovic said. “Obviously, he had a tough one yesterday but I’m sure he’s going to come out ready to battle tomorrow and let the better player win.”
While Fils had played two grueling, three-set marathon victories over American Frances Tiafoe on Monday and then took out the top-seeded German Alexander Zverev from 1-3 down in the third set late Wednesday afternoon, Mensik had more than two days off after receiving a walkover from ill countryman Tomas Machac in the round of 16.
“I didn’t play for two days, so the rhythm was the key, actually, and also the physicality, because I know that Arthur played a very tough, long match with Alex yesterday. He has less than 24 hours to recover, so it was completely opposite,’’ said Mensik, whose ranking should soar from 54 to at least 34.
Mensik’s strategy was to tire his opponent by sending Fils corner to corner while mixing in drop shots. Fils got to the droppers, but did nothing with them in losing all four in the tight opening set.
“We are really good friends, but when it comes to a match, no, you don’t have friends anymore on the court,’’ said Mensik, who’s into his third ATP Tour semifinal but first Masters 1000. “So of course you are doing everything to win. Fair play is the first place. I knew that Arthur is really good in the rallies. He’s running so fast. So, it was really, really important to keep him moving and to play aggressive baseline tennis.”
Mensik jumped out to 3-0 leads in both sets against a flat Fils but gave back the break at 4-1 of the first. Serving at 4-4, 15-40, he proceeded to pump in three aces (103-mph wide, 127 service winner, 188 ace and a 128 ace) to even the match.
In the tiebreaker, Mensik snatched two mini-breaks before adding an ace for a 6-3 lead. Fils held to 5-6, but the 6-foot-4 Mensik cracked a 137-mph first serve that Fils got back but a few strokes later, the staggering Frenchman swatted a forehand into the bottom of the net for one of his 23 unforced errors.
Mensik won a phenomenal 86 percent of his booming first serves, 50 percent of his well-placed second offerings and smacked 26 winners with 23 unforced errors. He notched a huge upset – on paper – in his second-round win over Indian Wells champion No. 6 Jack Draper of Great Britain. He ranks fourth on ace rate percentage in 2025 and sixth in first serves points won (78 percent) over the past 52 weeks.
“It’s my physicality, if you look at me, of course, I’m a tall guy,’’ he said, crediting his longtime coach Tomas Josefus. “It’s hard work and a lot of serves, a lot of these drills which right now during the match I feel pretty confident, and it’s my big, big weapon.”
Mensik was born and grew up in a small town, Prostejov in the Czechia, where the country’s largest national tennis center is located, and also the hometown of two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.
He grew up watching and admiring Radek Stepanek, who reached No. 8 in 2006 when Mensik was one, and Tomas Berdych, a perennial Top 10er who reached No. 4 in 2015 when Mensik was 10.
“I don’t remember that much, but of course because of them, I started to play and tried to as well to compete in tennis,’’ he said.
