Among the greats: Jakub Mensik targets Novak Djokovic win tally after levelling with Andy Murray

Jakub Mensik has emerged as one of the most exciting prospects in tennis over the past couple of years. The 19-year-old reached a career-high ranking of 17th in the world at the start of June, and looks poised to challenge higher up the rankings in the coming months.

He burst on the scene in the 2023 US Open, breezing through qualifying before defeating Gregoire Barrere to become the youngest person to win a main draw game at a Grand Slam since Borna Coric in 2014. All of this right before his 18th birthday. The Czech continued his eye-catching form, getting the better of Titouan Droguet before being overcome by the 2024 US Open finalist Taylor Fritz.

His first ATP final came at the Qatar Open. He conquered some big names on the way to the final, which included Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Andy Murray, Andrey Rublev and Gael Monfils, but was powerless to stop Karen Khachanov taking the title.

The win against Rublev was not only his first top 10 win, but the first time he got the better of a top-five-ranked player. He was the youngest player to complete this feat since Carlos Alcaraz two years prior. 2025 started well for Mensik, upsetting Casper Ruud at the Australian Open before failing to get over the line in a gut-wrenching defeat to Davidovich Fokina.

That would swiftly be forgotten, with his triumph in Miami. In the Masters 1000 event, he defeated the likes of Jack Draper, Arthur Fils and Fritz to reach the final. His opponent, Novak Djokovic, was as tough a test as you will get, but this did not faze the 19-year-old, who went on to win the tight match in straight sets, coming out on top in two tiebreakers. He would rise into the top 25, and is now one of the players to watch not just for the future, but for now.

Yesterday, Mensik comfortably disposed of American Ethan Quinn 6-4, 6-2 in a comfortable victory. He progresses to the next round of another Masters 1000 competition, keeping his 100% record of winning at least one match at every 1000 event he's entered in 2025. This remarkable consistency has seen him join a prestigious list of teenagers who have won 1000 matches.

In a record set by Tennis TV, Mensik finds himself level with Andy Murray for wins in Masters 1000 events, equalling the Scotsman's 21 wins as a teenager. More notably, Mensik finds himself two wins behind the total Djokovic racked up as a youngster. After defeating him in Miami, Mensik could go above the 24-time Grand Slam winner as soon as this week if he wins enough games in Cincinnati. He faces off against Italian Luca Nardi, with victory possibly setting up a round of 16 tie with the number two in the world, Alcaraz.

If the Czech wonderkid fails to equal the Serbian's tally this week, he will still have plenty of time to overtake him given his age, with the Shanghai and Paris Masters still to play, if he chooses to compete. After Djokovic, his attention will be turned to the 25 wins both Andy Roddick and Denis Shapovalov boast. It is a tall order to rise to the top of this list, with Rafael Nadal miles ahead of the chasing pack with 53. The top two are dominated by Spain, with Alcaraz swifly following him with 36 wins. Mensi

This proves that Mensik is capable of competing with the very best and is in line for a big career in the sport. Having already claimed a 1000 title, his ambitions are now focused on a deep run at a Grand Slam, with the US Open coming up very soon.