M 1000 MIAMI. By Emiliano Naftali
Jack Draper, fresh off his triumph in Indian Wells, was eliminated in straight sets, 7-6, 7-6, by Jakub Mensik.
The 23-year-old Brit, newly ranked No. 7 in the ATP rankings, arrived in Florida at the peak of his career after winning the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells. There, he defeated top-tier opponents such as Taylor Fritz (No. 4), Carlos Alcaraz (No. 3), and Holger Rune (No. 13), securing his place among the world’s top 10 for the first time.
Jack Draper and the key to his success: “Even when I have a bad day, my level is still very high.”
At the Miami Open, making his debut as the sixth seed and entering directly in the second round, he faced Jakub Mensik (No. 54). After 1 hour and 54 minutes, the Czech player pulled off an outstanding victory, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3).
“It’s my first full year on the ATP Tour, so I’m enjoying every moment of facing the best players. Jack (Draper) has played incredibly in recent weeks. I knew it was a big opportunity, and I took it,” said Mensik after his stunning win.
The Miami Open has long been a stage for unexpected upsets and rising stars. One of the most memorable breakthroughs came in 2019 when a teenage Felix Auger-Aliassime became the youngest semifinalist in tournament history. However, few surprises compare to the 2018 edition, when John Isner, at 32 years old, won his first-ever Masters 1000 title, defeating Alexander Zverev in the final. Isner’s triumph, fueled by his dominant serve, remains one of the greatest Cinderella stories in Miami Open history.