Indian Wells champion Jack Draper will not chase the ‘Sunshine Double’ honor in Miami! The 6th seed faced the most dangerous rival in the second round, Jakub Mensik, and fell 7-6, 7-6 in an hour and 54 minutes.
Thus, the Czech teen notched another top-10 victory and booked his place in the third round. Draper fought well, but it was not enough to prolong the battle and his chances. The Briton became the first Indian Wells champion to fall in the first match in Miami since Dominic Thiem in 2019.
Jack led 3-1 in the opening set. He lost the advantage and fell in the tie break. There were not breaks in set number two, and the Czech maintained his composure to emerge at the top and send world no. 7 packing.
Raining ACES 💥
19-year-old @mensik_jakub_ takes out Indian Wells champion Draper 7-6 7-6 for his sixth career Top 10 win! #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/h6d4PTHkve
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 22, 2025
Mensik claimed eight points more than the 6th seed and made the difference behind the first serve. Jakub dropped 19 points in his games and suffered one break from two chances offered to his rival. Draper had to work hard to stay in contention.
The top-10 star gave away 34% of the points behind the initial shot. He denied eight of nine break points, giving everything but falling in straight sets after winning points on the return in both tie breaks! Mensik stepped in and fired 46 winners and 27 unforced errors!
Jakub Mensik, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot
He outplayed the Briton and reduced him to a 27-27 ratio. The Czech forged a slight advantage in service winners, from the baseline and at the net and sealed the deal after a reliable performance in the pivotal moments.
The Indian Wells champion kicked off the action with a break in the first game of the encounter! Draper held at love two times and opened a 3-1 gap after 12 minutes with a forehand winner. A left-hander squandered a game point at 3-2.
Jakub Mensik & Jack Draper, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Mensik welcomed the rival’s forehand error on a break point, pulling the break back and returning to the positive side. Jack saved two break points in the eighth game, and they served well in the remaining ones to introduce a tie break after 48 minutes.
World no. 7 placed a routine forehand wide in the third point and found himself 4-1 behind after Jakub’s powerful serves. The Briton hit a double fault in the seventh point and fell 5-2 behind. Mensik painted an ace for four set points and converted the first with another for 7-6 in 52 minutes.
Draper faced the ultimate test at 1-1 in the second set. He erased four break points and held with a service winner to keep himself in contention. Jakub missed a forehand in the next one and faced the second and last break point.
Jack Draper, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot
A teenager saved it with a forehand attack and held for 2-2. The Czech provided a hold at love in the sixth game with a winner at the net and made a push on the return in the next one. The younger player landed a volley winner for two break chances.
Jack saved the first with a forehand down the line winner and the second with a volley winner for more drama. They provided four comfortable holds from 4-4 and arranged another tie break. Mensik hit a forehand winner in the third point for 2-1.
Draper placed a forehand long in the next one to experience a mini-break. Jakub fired two service winners for 5-2 and generated four match points after the rival’s double fault. The Czech landed an ace on the second, sealing the deal and celebrating a high-profile victory.
Tennis World USA