Djokovic dismisses eye issue talk after Miami Open defeat
Djokovic dismisses eye issue talk after Miami Open defeat
Novak Djokovic refused to discuss an apparent eye issue that troubled him before his Miami Open final loss to 19-year-old Jakub Mensik, insisting he didn’t want to take away from the Czech teenager’s triumph.
A long, strange day
– The final was delayed nearly six hours due to rain.
– Djokovic appeared with swelling around his right eye, resembling a stye.
– He applied eye drops during a changeover in the first set but avoided discussing it post-match.
– “I didn’t feel my greatest, but it is what it is. Nothing to take away from his victory,” Djokovic said.
Despite being denied his 100th career title, Djokovic praised Mensik’s rapid rise.
– “I saw him play at 15 or 16 and trained with him. His evolution is amazing.”
– “His serve is incredible — powerful, precise. His backhand? Classic Czech quality.”
– “For a tall guy, he moves well. He still has room to improve, but he’s got the complete game.”
Djokovic had dominated the tournament without dropping a set until the final. Despite the defeat, he took positives from his time in South Florida.
– “Bitter taste because of the loss, but Miami brought me a lot of joy.”
– “The crowd was incredible, pushing me on. I felt welcomed and supported.”
Djokovic now turns his attention to the clay-court season, where he will aim to bounce back.
Published on Mar 31, 2025
