No 100th title for Djokovic as he loses to young Mensik in Miami

Czech teenager Jakub Mensik beat childhood idol Novak Djokovic to win the Miami Open, having come close to withdrawing with a knee injury hours before his first-round match.

Mensik, 19, went to the referee's room to announce his withdrawal before his opener against Roberto Bautista Agut on 20 March, but the official was out for lunch.

He then went to the physiotherapist to ask them to fill in paperwork confirming his withdrawal, but was persuaded to stay on.

Mensik went to a physiotherapist, who deemed the injury not to be serious and began treatment to enable him to compete.

Mensik dropped just two sets on his run to the final, which included victories over British number one Jack Draper and fourth seed Taylor Fritz.

He clinched a first ATP Tour title with a 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4) win over Serbia's Djokovic on a sticky, humid night in Florida.

Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, had been bidding to become just the third man in the Open era to win 100 singles titles.

However, the 37-year-old's wait will go on after his loss to Mensik, who was just 10 months old when Djokovic won his first title in 2006.

Mensik is the ninth-youngest Masters 1000 champion and the second-youngest in Miami after Carlos Alcaraz.

He is another rising star in the men's game, possessing a huge serve and a thumping backhand that has taken him inside the world's top 50.

Djokovic invited Mensik to practice with him after the 2022 Australian Open when he was still a junior, and Mensik said in his winner's speech that Djokovic was "the reason I am here".

Fourth seed Djokovic warmly congratulated Mensik at the end of the match and said afterwards: "It hurts me to admit it but you were better.