Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic chose to remain silent about an eye condition he appeared to suffer from during his Miami Open final loss on Sunday. The unseeded Czech teenager Jakub Mensik delivered a shocking upset, and Djokovic insisted he didn’t want to detract from his opponent’s victory by discussing his health concerns.
Following a six-hour rain delay, Djokovic stepped onto the court with visible swelling around his right eye, possibly caused by a stye infection. Struggling from the outset, he dropped his first service game and was seen applying eye drops during a changeover in the first set.
Djokovic on His Defeat: “A Weird Day”
The 24-time Grand Slam champion, who was on the verge of securing his 100th career title, described the day as “weird” due to multiple disruptions.
“It was an unfortunate day for me. Two tiebreaks, a long rain delay, and everything that unfolded just made it a very strange match. I wasn’t feeling my best, but that’s how it is. I don’t want to take anything away from his victory,” Djokovic said.
When directly asked about his eye condition, the 37-year-old hesitated to discuss it, emphasizing that he did not want to make excuses for the unexpected loss.
“I prefer not to talk about it. There were a few things going on, but I don’t want to make it seem like I’m giving excuses,” he stated.
A Long Day at Miami Open
Originally scheduled for 3 PM local time, the men’s final was delayed until 8:45 PM. The players endured hours of waiting, during which the women’s doubles final was completed.
Despite the disappointment, Djokovic expressed admiration for Mensik’s progress.
Djokovic Praises Mensik’s Talent
“Of course, I’m never happy to lose, but he is one of the very few players that I wouldn’t mind losing to,” Djokovic said.
Djokovic revealed that he had trained with Mensik when the Czech star was just 15 or 16 years old, inviting him for training sessions at his Belgrade-based academy.
“I could see back then that he was going to be one of the top players in the world. It’s amazing to see him using his potential. He has a complete game—his serve is powerful, precise, and earns him free points. His Czech-style backhand is strong, and his forehand has improved tremendously. His movement, especially for a tall player, is impressive. He can still improve, and I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of him,” Djokovic said.
A Positive Tournament Despite the Loss
Djokovic, who had not dropped a set throughout the tournament, acknowledged that the Miami Open had been an overall positive experience.
“Right now, the loss is disappointing, but Miami has always given me great memories. The crowd support was fantastic, and they really pushed me during the final. It’s been a great tournament despite how it ended,” he concluded.
With Djokovic looking ahead to future tournaments and Mensik making waves on the ATP Tour, this Miami Open final will be remembered as a defining moment for both players.
