MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Novak Djokovic faced a series of obstacles Sunday in the Miami Open final: a delay of more than 5½ hours before the match, an eye infection and a slippery court due to high levels of humidity following the rain.
But the largest roadblock was the youth and power of 6-foot-4, 19-year-old phenom Jakub Mensik, who outdueled the 37-year-old Serbian in two tiebreakers 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4) to win his first ATP title.
Ranked 54th entering the tournament, the Czech Republic teenager plowed through Djokovic with poise and a stellar 130 mph serve. He collected 14 aces and was broken only once. Mensik bashed a service winner on match point and fell on his back.
“You’re the one I idolized when I was young,″ Mensik said to Djokovic during the ceremony after the match that lasted 2 hours, 3 minutes. “I started playing tennis because of you.″
Mensik’s…
