This looks set to be a fantastic clash between two members of the current Czech tennis resurgence.
2025 ATP Tour
Masters 1000
Miami Open
Miami Gardens, Miami, Florida (Outdoor Hardcourts)
Selected Round of 16 Matches- 26th March
Tomas Machac (20) 0.89 vs Jakub Mensik 0.89
24-year-old Tomas Machac has enjoyed a chaotic but rewarding season thus far. The 2024 Shanghai Masters semifinalist started the year in surreal fashion, retiring at a crucial juncture
of his United Cup semifinal clash with Taylor Fritz. He reached the 3rd round of the Aussie Open but his real breakout moment came in Acapulco. Machac entered the top 20 in the world for the first time after winning his maiden tour title at the Mexican Open. He was forced to retire from his Indian Wells opener but has bounced back brilliantly this fortnight. He overcame a tough opener against Arnaldi but looked back to his best against servebot Reily Opelka. He actually ended up with a better first-serve win percentage than the giant Opelka (90% to 70%). Machac hit eleven winners to five unforced errors in a truly complete performance.
19-year-old Jakub Mensik will be desperate to get one over his compatriot this week. The Cech reached his first ATP final last year, losing to Karen Kchanchanov in the Qatar Open championship match. He started this season in solid fashion, reaching back-to-back quarterfinals in Brisbane and Auckland. He then conspired to lose after leading by two sets to love against Davidovich Fokina in the 3rd round of the Aussie Open. The youngster tapered off somewhat in the aftermath of that defeat, winning just twice in his next three events. But the Czech has discovered some magic on these Miami hardcourts, winning three successive tour-level matches for the first time since last year’s Shanghai Masters (where he reached the quarters). He was particularly impressive against Indian Wells champ Jack Draper, hitting 44 winners to 25 unforced errors in one of the best performances of his young career (he served 21 aces and 0 double faults). The hard-hitting Mensik eased past Safiullin in his round of 32 encounter, firing 21 winners to just six unforced errors.
The Verdict: Mensik to win in straight sets at 2.05- Machac leads the head-to-head 1-0, overcoming his compatriot in three sets en route to this year’s Acapulco title. I think that Mensik has a real chance of avenging that result here. Mensik has served an incredible 59 aces in three matches and just seems at home with the pace of these surfaces.
