Meeting Lionel Messi before the Miami Open semifinals was just the boost Jakub Mensik needed, as the 19-year-old upset world No 4 Taylor Fritz on Friday to reach his first Masters 1000 final, where he will face Novak Djokovic.
Jakub Mensik about meeting Lionel Messi before his semi-finals victory:
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) March 29, 2025
"I shook his hand. I was kind of chilling with him a bit so I didn't wash my hand before stepping on court. That was the key for today." 😅 pic.twitter.com/gyFSvBBIuf
Czech Republic's Mensik shook hands with Messi and thanked the Argentine soccer great by writing "Thx Leo" on a camera lens after securing the biggest win of his career.
Jakub Mensik 🇨🇿 se clasificó a la final del Masters de Miami y se enfrentará a Novak Djokovic ¿A quién le dedicó la firma de la cámara? A Lionel Messi 🇦🇷. "Le estreché la mano antes de entrar a la cancha y no me la lavé, esa fue la clave del triunfo de hoy".
— VSports Team (@VSportsTM) March 29, 2025
😁 pic.twitter.com/RQmBaQm73T
"I was shaking his hand... kind of chilling with him a little bit. I didn't wash my hand before I stepped on the court, and probably that was the key for today," Mensik joked after beating Fritz 7-6(4) 4-6 7-6(4).
Saturday's final against Djokovic, who is bidding for a record 100th career title, pits Mensik against one of his heroes.
"My tennis inspiration is Novak Djokovic. Because of him, I started to play tennis. He's my biggest idol," Mensik told ATP Tour in an interview last year.
Djokovic beat Mensik in straight sets at the Shanghai Masters in October, the only time they have met on court.