Jack Draper crashes out of Miami Open in shock defeat by Jakub Mensik

Jack Draper lost in the second round of the Miami Open — Jack Draper lost in the second round only a week after winning at Indian Wells - AP/Lynne Sladky

If Jack Draper was enjoying a warm glow after claiming the Indian Wells title last weekend, it was rudely interrupted by 19-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik on Saturday afternoon.

In a second-round match that reminded us of the volume of talent sloshing around the ATP Tour, Mensik was all but flawless after dropping his serve in the opening game.

With the exception of that shaky start, Mensik served like a demon – landing no fewer than 21 aces across the match – and showed no vestige of nerves as he closed out a 7-6, 7-6 victory in an efficient 114 minutes.

What a performance from Jakub Mensik ✨

He defeats Jack Draper with his 21st ace 🔥 pic.twitter.com/3iWyGsxBCR
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) March 22, 2025

Draper had received a first-round bye, so this was his first outing since Indian Wells. He did not perform badly at all, but neither was he playing at the same exalted level that we had seen in the Californian desert.

One could hardly blame him, given the intensity of effort required to land a maiden Masters 1000 title. The conditions in Miami were slightly lower-bouncing, and Draper never found the same sweet timing that recently took out Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz and the rest.

Draper seemed to have the advantage after moving to 3-2 in the first set with a break, but was promptly broken for the only time of the match as Mensik levelled up at 3-3.

Mensik was hugely impressive on so many fronts, striking 46 winners to only 27 unforced errors. (The equivalent figures for Draper were exactly even: 27 and 27.) But it was on serve and return that Mensik really stood out. Not only was his own serve an absolute howitzer, but he regularly managed to find deep, powerful and awkward returns.

Jakub Mensik plays a forehand — Jakub Mensik hit an impressive 46 winners en route to victory - AP/Lynne Sladky

Draper enjoyed a brief respite in the second set, but not because his opponent had dropped his level. Instead, there was an unusual interruption which was entirely typical of this often chaotic event.

In the middle of this absorbing tussle, the yellow-shirted Brazilian fans who made up a high proportion of the crowd on the Grandstand Stadium started booing and charging for the exits.

The issue was that the Brazilians had not come for Draper and Mensik. Instead, they wanted to watch their electric 18-year-old prospect Joao Fonseca take on Ugo Humbert. This was supposed to be the next match on, but it was suddenly promoted to the Stadium Court with almost no warning.

When the yellow-shirted fans discovered that they were on the wrong court, there was almost a riot in the stands. Mensik – who seemed to be so in the zone that he would not have noticed an approaching tsunami – was all for carrying on. But Draper was unhappy with all the noise and movement. After some discussion, chair umpire Rene Lichtenstein asked the players to take a seat for three or four minutes until the disturbance had calmed down.

The match between Jack Draper and Jakub Mensik was paused after it was announced that the court for Joao Fonseca and Ugo Humbert's match had changed. pic.twitter.com/vCfv2Lxtpy
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) March 22, 2025

Draper might have hoped that the interruption – which came as he held a 4-3 second-set lead – would get into Mensik’s head. Not a bit of it. Mensik came straight out and served more aces, rushing on to what was his sixth win in 11 meetings with top-10 players. Clearly undervalued by his own ranking of No 54, he is developing a reputation as something of a giant-killer.

As for Draper, he will no doubt be disappointed, but he is not giving up any ranking points after losing to Nicolás Jarry in the second round of Miami last year. It might be a blessing to go home, take a break and then start building for the clay-court swing.

Earlier, the new British No 2 Jacob Fearnley had been ousted by world No 2 Alexander Zverev in a fairly routine manner. The 6-2, 6-4 scoreline shows how comfortable this was for Zverev, who never faced a break point.

Nevertheless, Fearnley did brilliantly to come through qualifying here and beat Benjamin Bonzi – a Frenchman ranked 20 places higher than him at No 63 – in the first round of the main draw.

This run will continue Fearnley’s rapid rise up the rankings, probably carrying him to No 73 when the next chart is published on Monday week. He has just overtaken Cameron Norrie, who is on a run of three straight losses and is slipping back on the ladder all the time.

09:15 PM GMT

Tough outing for Indian Wells champion Draper

1 - Jack Draper is the first Indian Wells Men's Singles Champion to lose in his opening match at the Miami Masters in the same season since Dominic Thiem in 2019. Rough. #MiamiOpen | @MiamiOpen @atptour @atptour
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) March 22, 2025

09:05 PM GMT

Great performance from Mensik

What a performance from Jakub Mensik ✨

He defeats Jack Draper with his 21st ace 🔥 pic.twitter.com/3iWyGsxBCR
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) March 22, 2025

08:56 PM GMT

Mensik takes the second-set tie-break and the match!

Draper wins the opening point after Mensik nets a backhand from the baseline. 0-1

The teenager then races to a 3-1 lead after some costly errors from Draper. 3-1

Mensik gets to 4-2 with a smart serve out wide. 4-2

Then a huge ace down the tee sees Mensik reach 5-2.

Double fault by Draper gives Mensik four match points. 6-2

Draper saves one with with a forehand pass. 6-3

Mensik sees out the match with another ace to close out the victory! 7-3.

That was Mensik’s 21st ace of the contest! Incredible serving display from the 19-year-old!

08:49 PM GMT

Mensik* 7-6 6-6 Draper

Mensik gets the better of Draper in some extended rallies from the baseline as the teenager closes in on another tie-break. A huge serve out wide seals the game for Mensik!

08:45 PM GMT

Mensik 7-6 5-6 *Draper

A big forehand pass sees Draper get to 30-15 before Mensik gets to 30-30. Some cat and mouse play at the net sees Draper get the better of Mensik and ultimately hold to 30.

08:43 PM GMT

Mensik* 7-6 5-5 Draper

Draper wins the opening point before Mensik finds some big serves which draw a few errors from the Briton. Mensik eventually holds to 30.

08:38 PM GMT

Mensik 7-6 4-5 *Draper

Draper races to a 30-0 lead before Mensik forces the Briton to hit a forehand long.

A big first serve down the tee is returned by Mensik who then sees Draper net a forehand. The Briton does eventually hold to 30 as he closes in on this second set.

Mensik will serve to stay in it after the break.

08:35 PM GMT

Mensik* 7-6 4-4 Draper

Mensik hits an ace before the umpire paused play. On resumption, the teenager hits two more unreturnables before eventually closing out the game to 15.

08:33 PM GMT

Shambles on Grandstand

What an absolute shambles from the organisers of the Miami Open to move the Fonseca match and annoy all these Brazilian fans. What a weird mood this creates on the court. It reminds me of how Andy Murray’s retirement was hastened by a moronic steward at Miami last year. This man in a hi-vis vest started moving around in his eyeline when he was leading Tomas Machac in the deciding set. Murray got distracted, gave the break back, got into a tussle – and then ripped his ankle ligaments to shreds at the death.

(Joao Fonseca verus Ugo Humbert was scheduled to follow Draper-Mensik on Grandstand but was moved to Stadium Court by the Miami Open organisers which prompted Brazilian fans to leave Grandstand in the middle of the second set)

The match between Jack Draper and Jakub Mensik was paused after it was announced that the court for Joao Fonseca and Ugo Humbert's match had changed. pic.twitter.com/vCfv2Lxtpy
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) March 22, 2025

08:28 PM GMT

Mensik 7-6 3-4 *Draper

Draper wins the opening point as Mensik’s attempted lob sails beyond the baseline. Mensik gets to 15-15 as Draper shanks a backhand from deep.

The teeanager then gets a look at two break points at 15-40 which Draper ends up saving after playing two assured points. A couple of big serves sees Draper eventually hold!

08:22 PM GMT

Mensik* 7-6 3-3 Draper

Mensik wins the opening point with a forehand winner which followed a big serve down the tee. Draper then drags a forehand return wide before Mensik eventually closes out the game to love with a backhand volley winner.

08:18 PM GMT

Mensik 7-6 2-3 *Draper

Good hold to 15 from the Briton as he immediately puts the pressure back on Mensik.

The Briton exerted very little energy in that fifth game.

08:16 PM GMT

Mensik* 7-6 2-2 Draper

Draper gets to 15-30 after coming on top following some extended baseline exchanges. Mensik does eventually settle as he finds a short angled forehand to get to 30-30.

The Briton then gets a look a break point as Mensik shanks a forehand. Draper is unable to take advantage as Mensik wins the next two points after drawing a couple of errors from the Draper forehand wing.

08:10 PM GMT

How Mensik won the opening set

Jakub Mensik takes the first set against Jack Draper in a tiebreak 👀 pic.twitter.com/XOrNpX0Pxy
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) March 22, 2025

08:10 PM GMT

Mensik 7-6 1-2 *Draper

A lucky net cord gets Mensik to break point after the teenager played a clever backhand drop shot to bring Draper in. Draper saves the first but finds himself having to save another as Mensik hits a lovely forehand pass.

Draper shanks a forehand to give Mensik his fourth break point opportunity but he saves it with a big serve out wide. The Briton eventually holds after a gutsy game.

08:03 PM GMT

Mensik* 7-6 1-1 Draper

Quick hold to 15 sees Mensik level things up in the second set. That tie-break will have given the teenager a lot of confidence.

08:00 PM GMT

How much energy does Draper have in the tank?

Didn’t expect that after five games. Mensik served an unreturnable on the first point of the tie-break and then four successive aces. He has outserved and outreturned Draper to this point. The numbers for both men are pretty decent: only 10 unforced errors from Draper and 16 for Mensik. Now the question turns to how much energy Draper has in the tank, a week after his maiden Masters 1000 title.

07:58 PM GMT

Mensik 7-6 0-1 *Draper

Draper wins the opening point with forehand volley. The Briton then gets to 30-0 before closing out the game to 15 as Mensik nets a forehand return.

Draper is in a match on Grandstand!

07:55 PM GMT

First-set tie-break: Mensik

Mensik wins the opening as Draper’s return sails out. 1-0

Draper gets to 1-1 with an ace down the tee. 1-1

Mensik gets the mini break after Draper hits forehand out wide. 2-1

An ace sees the teenager go 3-1 up. 3-1

Another ace gives Mensik a 4-1 lead.

Draper gets to 4-2 with a big serve of his own and then hits a double fault to fall further behind. 5-2

Huge ace sees Mensik get to set point which he takes with another ace down the tee! 7-2

07:49 PM GMT

Mensik 6-6 *Draper

Forehand winner sees Draper win the opening point. The Briton then gets to 30-0 after a Mensik return sails long. Good love-hold in the end.

07:46 PM GMT

Mensik* 6-5 Draper

A nice backhand volley sees Mensik go 15-0 before Draper comes out on top after a backhand-to-backhand baseline rally.

Mensik wins the game to 15 after some good serving and another clean backhand winner as he puts pressure on Draper again who will serve to stay in this first set.

07:42 PM GMT

Mensik 5-5 *Draper

Draper wins the opening point as Mensik pushes a backhand long. The Briton then gets to 30-0 after drawing another error on the Mensik forehand wing before the teenager gets on the board with a forehand drop shot. The Briton eventually closes out the game to 15 with a huge forehand!

07:38 PM GMT

Mensik* 5-4 Draper

Mensik drives a forehand wide as Draper wins the opening point. The teenager hits a couple of big serves to get to get to 30-15 as Draper shanks a return on his forehand side.

Mensik does hold after a deep backhand leaves Draper scrambling on the baseline.

07:35 PM GMT

Mensik 4-4 *Draper

A couple of heavy forehands set up the point nicely as Draper goes up 15-0. The Briton then nets a forehand from the baseline before finding a nice serve down the tee to go 30-15. Mensik gets in a good return before thundering a forehand back behind Draper.

Draper saves a break point with a lovely serve out wide followed by a backhand into the open court.

A crazy rally at deuce sees Mensik bring up another break point before Draper snuffs it out with another ace. The Briton eventually sees out the game with an ace after saving two break points!

07:26 PM GMT

Mensik* 4-3 Draper

Mensik gets to 30-0 after two quick points. An ace out wide then brings up three game points which he attempts to seize with a serve-volley move that Draper wins. Mensik does eventually hold to 15.

07:24 PM GMT

Mensik 3-3 *Draper

The Briton loses his first point on first serve before finding a lovely drop shot to get to 15-15. Mensik then gets to 15-30 following a Draper error.

A clean backhand winning return sees Mensik get to deuce and the teenager gets his first break point opportunity after coming out on top after an extended baseline exchange. Mensik breaks!

07:19 PM GMT

No sign of an Indian Wells hangover

Certainly no immediate sign of an Indian Wells hangover as Draper controls the early exchanges and draws some cheap errors from his talented yet rather wild young opponent. The Mensik forehand has been a bit flaky and I’d expect Draper to tangle him up in long crosscourt rallies.

07:16 PM GMT

Mensik* 2-3 Draper

Mensik races out to a 30-0 lead before falling short in an extended baseline rally. Draper gets to 30-30 after drawing out another forehand error from Mensik. A clever drop shot then gives Mensik game point at 40-30 and then he finds an ace to close out the game.

07:13 PM GMT

Mensik 1-3 *Draper

Another big serve out wide sees Draper win the opening point. The Briton follows that up with a body serve to go 30-0 and then an ace out wide before holding to love again! Solid start from the world No 7.

07:10 PM GMT

Mensik* 1-2 Draper

Mensik gets on the board after holding to 30. The Czech teenager looks a little nervous out there but has settled into proceedings.

07:07 PM GMT

Mensik 0-2 *Draper

Solid hold to love to consolidate the break from the Briton.

Draper started the game with an ace out wide and never looked back.

07:04 PM GMT

Mensik* 0-1 Draper

Mensik wins the opening point with a clean forehand winner that followed a big first serve out wide.

Draper gets to 15-15 after forcing an error from the teenager before going 15-30 with a lovely short angled forehand.

The Briton then gets his first break point at 30-40 after Mensik nets a forehand and breaks at the first time of asking with a lovely passing shot.

06:55 PM GMT

Mensik will serve first

Mensik won the toss and elects to serve. No surprises there as the teenager has one of the biggest serves on the ATP Tour.

06:52 PM GMT

Players are on court

Mensik enters the court first followed by Indian Wells champion Draper.

06:38 PM GMT

Fritz wins in straights

And that is it! Fritz wins in straights – 7-6, 6-3. The American will play Canadian 27th seed Denis Shapovalov or Argentine qualifier Thiago Agustin Tirante in the third round.

Draper and Mensik will be on Grandstand next!

06:30 PM GMT

Fritz breaks!!!

Taylor Fritz is serving for the match after breaking Sonego on Grandstand. The American leads 5-3 in the second set.

06:27 PM GMT

Fearnley falls to Zverev

Earlier today British qualifier Jacob Fearnley fell to top seed Alexander Zverev in straight sets – 6-2, 6-4.

Jacob Fearnley in second-round action in Miami - AP/Lynne Sladky

06:16 PM GMT

Big win for Raducanu

Emma Raducanu got her first top-10 win on a hard court yesterday on Grandstand. Read all about how she got the job done against Emma Navarro here.

06:10 PM GMT

Fritz-Sonego on Grandstand

The American No 1 Taylor Fritz is currently in action against Lorenzo Sonego of Italy on Grandstand which is where Draper and Mensik are scheduled to do battle.

Fritz, the third seed in Miami, currently leads the Italian 7-6 and we are on serve in the second set at 3-3.

Taylor Fritz is currently a set up in his second-round match - Getty Images/Rich Storry

06:00 PM GMT

Draper looking to build on Indian Wells success

Good evening and welcome to coverage of Jack Draper’s second-round match against Jakub Mensik at the Miami Open.

Draper is playing for the first time since winning the Indian Wells title last week. Now a top 10 player for the first time in his career, the world No 7 is looking to back up his championship-winning run in Tennis Paradise with a strong showing in Miami.

The British No 1 swept aside tough opposition en route to his first Masters 1000 title last week and only dropped a single set across six matches. Draper beat the world No 4 Taylor Fritz 7-5, 6-4 in the round of 16, backed up that win with a clean 6-4, 7-5 victory over the big-serving American Ben Shelton in the quarter-finals, then saw off world No 3 and the two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 6-1, 0-6, 6-4 in the semi-finals before a convincing 6-2, 6-2 victory over Holger Rune in the final.

Mensik, one of the most promising teenagers on the ATP Tour at 19 years old, has already cracked the top 50 this year and is currently ranked 54th in the world. The big server from Czechia reached the second round in Indian Wells after seeing off Tomas Martin Etcheverry in straight sets in the first round. After losing to Karen Khachanov in the second round in three sets, Mensik dropped down a level to play a Challenger in the Dominican Republic. He won three matches before falling in the semi-finals.

Draper, making his fourth appearance in Miami, has never made it past the second round. The sixth seed, who has transformed his fitness, game and mentality, will be hoping to put that right today against Mensik in what will be their first meeting at ATP Tour level.

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