Shanghai 2024: The First Showdown Between Legend Djokovic and Talented Mensik

On October 11, 2024, in Shanghai, amid the emotional intensity of a Masters 1000 quarterfinal, an unexpected duel unfolded between legend Novak Djokovic and young talent Jakub Mensik. The result: a victory for the Serbian, indeed, but only after a battle lasting over 2 hours and 19 minutes: 6‑7, 6‑1, 6‑4.

At 19 years old, Mensik had reached the quarterfinals of a Masters 1000. His journey was already remarkable: he eliminated seeded players like Rublev (6) and Dimitrov (9) to earn his spot against Djokovic. Facing his opponent, he immediately imposed his serve, hitting 17 aces compared to 7 for the Serbian throughout the match.

In the first set, Mensik held his ground. Very solid and focused on his serves, he pulled ahead in the tie-break to claim the initial set (7‑4). Djokovic missed several opportunities to break the Czech’s serve (1/3 break points).

But what sets great champions apart is their ability to shift gears. Djokovic emerged from the first set a bit shaky but came back in dominant form in the second. He controlled the rallies, capitalized on his opponent’s errors, and took the set 6‑1.

The third act was a display of strategic tension. Both players held firm, but Djokovic made the decisive move by breaking at the right moment and serving strongly until the end. As usual, he managed to handle Mensik’s key moments. An opponent he did not hesitate to praise after the match:

“He has a very bright future if he continues to improve, but above all, he has great mental strength and a good support team.”