Jakub Mensik is very much the man of the moment on the ATP Tour, having just lifted the Miami Open trophy.
Novak Djokovic highlighted Mensik’s ability during the Miami Open, with the former then beaten by the latter in the final.
Martina Navratilova has praised Djokovic for speaking highly of Mensik, who won his first ATP title at the hard court event.
The 19-year-old Czech beat the 37-year-old Serbian 7-6(7-4), 7-6(7-4), denying Djokovic a 100th ATP title.
Mensik has now risen a huge 30 places in the world rankings to 24th following his success, with the runner-up staying in fifth place.
Andy Roddick says Jakub Mensik could look ‘ordinary’ at Monte Carlo Masters
But both players will now turn their focus away from hard courts and towards clay courts, with the Monte Carlo Masters up next in the calendar.
And previewing the near future for the ATP’s newest champion Mensik, former world number one Andy Roddick said on his Served podcast: “I still think on slower courts… I won Miami twice and it’s great.
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“You win a Masters 1000 but it’s not the easiest tournament to win and then build momentum. This guy is not going to see a hard court again until July.
“So you build up this momentum set and at 19 we don’t have a massive sample size of how he is on other surfaces.
“You see his game and automatically go he serves big, he should be able to roll through at least 90% of his service games.
“His backhand he doesn’t mind it down, he hits it pretty flat. Wimbledon is a thing now. He has a little bit of an extreme grip on his forehand which doesn’t go to grass.
“And then the movement, it’s hard to predict who is going to move well on the grass. So as well as this kid played this week I still think there is going to be every chance that 10 days from now in Monte Carlo we see him look ordinary.
“We have now seen what his ceiling is, and he has certainly raised the floor in Miami. But it’s going to be a work in progress.”
Jakub Mensik levels head-to-head record with Novak Djokovic after Miami Open
Mensik definitely needs to take things one step at a time, with the 19-year-old deserving to simply enjoy his superb success right now.
But the ATP Tour schedule is ruthless, with his focus quickly set to turn to another Masters 1000 tournament.
READ MORE: Barbora Krejcikova and Coco Gauff’s former coach react after Jakub Mensik wins the Miami Open title
It is simply too early too tell just how much of an impact he can have on other surfaces, unlike the master that is Djokovic.
But Mensik is likely to continue progressing regardless of the surface, with a fine 14-6 win-loss record to his name this season.
Moreover, he also now has an enviable head-to-head record with the 24-time Grand Slam champion, with the pair on one win each from their two meetings.
And given the teenager lost to the veteran in the Shanghai Masters quarter-finals last year, Mensik has certainly triumphed in the most important of the two matches.
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