Draper Shocked by Mensik in Miami Open Second Round

In a surprising turn of events at the Miami Open, British tennis hopeful Jack Draper was defeated by Czech qualifier Jakub Mensik in the second round of the tournament. The match, which took place on Saturday, 22nd March, 2025 ended with a scoreline of 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-3), marking a significant upset in the competition.

Draper, who has been steadily climbing the ranks and was expected to make a deep run in the tournament, struggled to find his rhythm against the 18-year-old Mensik. The young Czech player, who came through the qualifying rounds, displayed remarkable composure and skill, outplaying Draper in key moments of the match.

The first set was tightly contested, with both players exchanging breaks of serve. However, Mensik managed to edge ahead, taking the set in a tie-break. Draper fought back in the second set, but Mensik’s relentless baseline play and powerful serves proved too much for the British player to handle. Mensik secured the victory with a decisive break in the final set, leaving Draper and his fans stunned.

Speaking after the match, Draper admitted that he was disappointed with his performance but praised Mensik for his exceptional play. “Jakub played an incredible match today. He was solid from the baseline and took his chances when they came. I didn’t play my best, but credit to him for raising his game,” Draper said.

Mensik, who is making his debut at the Miami Open, expressed his delight at the victory. “It’s an amazing feeling to win against such a great player like Jack. I just tried to stay focused and play my game, and it worked out well. I’m really happy with how I performed,” Mensik said.

The victory marks a significant milestone in Mensik’s young career, as he advances to the third round of a Masters 1000 event for the first time. He will now face [insert next opponent] in the next round, with hopes of continuing his impressive run.

For Draper, the loss is a setback in his quest to break into the top echelons of the ATP rankings. However, the 22-year-old remains optimistic about his future prospects. “It’s a tough loss, but I’ll learn from it and come back stronger. There’s still a lot of tennis to be played this season, and I’m focused on improving and getting better,” Draper said.

The Miami Open continues to deliver thrilling matches and unexpected results, with fans eagerly anticipating more action as the tournament progresses. Stay tuned to BBC Sport for the latest updates and coverage from the Miami Open.