“He’s got potential to be one of the top players of the world” – Djokovic praises Mensik ahead of quarter-final clash
Djokovic and Mensik have practiced together on multiple occasions but will play for the first time on Friday
Zuma/Panoramic
Novak Djokovic has spoken highly of his upcoming quarter-final opponent at the Shanghai Masters in China, labelling Czech teenager Jakub Mensik as someone with potential to be “one of the top players of the world”.
Djokovic and Mensik will clash for the first time on Friday in Shanghai, but the pair are no strangers to each other.
“We had a training week in Belgrade couple times,” explained Djokovic. “He came over to play at the Serbia Open as well on clay. I followed his development, I try to be available to him to help him out with advice and guidance, to his parents as well, they’re lovely people.”
This week, Mensik has claimed two top-10 scalps already, beating both Grigor Dimitrov and Andrey Rublev for the second time this year. The 19-year-old is only ranked No 65 in the world, but is showing significant signs of a promising future.
“I mean, he’s the youngster that is coming up,” declared Djokovic of Mensik.
“I followed him since, he has played finals of Australian Open, I think it was in juniors three years ago or so. So, I’m very thrilled for him that he’s doing so well.
“I always believed that he’s got potential to be one of the top players of the world, and he’s building that kind of momentum right now. He’s tall, he’s got the big serve, he has got the all-around game, and he defends and moves very well for somebody of his height.
“I expect a tough challenge, for sure, because he’s got a big, big serve on this surface that is quick, it puts a lot of pressure. As I said, he’s got an all-around game, can come to the net, he can defend well, he’s just an exciting player to watch.
“This is going to be the first time, as I said, we face each other. We played in some practice sets when he was very young at that point a few years ago. Now he has improved so much, and physically as well gotten bigger and stronger. So, yeah, it’s going to be fun.”
he’s got an all-around game, can come to the net, he can defend well, he’s just an exciting player to watch
Novak Djokovic
While Djokovic was quick to emphasise how many connections he has with Mensik and how strong their relationship is off the court, the Serbian said that on the court, it’s a different matter.
“On the court it’s, obviously, a different story, we want to win against each other,” he said, before explaining that he is wary of Mensik rising to the occasion.
“You have someone like Mensik, who is a youngster, who has nothing to lose, comes out on the court and just, you know, gets excited about being in that moment.
“Oftentimes that happens, and we saw it, I think, against Michelsen in my first match here. He played great tennis, and [it was] very difficult for me to win that match.”
Mensik is already up to No 51 in the world in the live ATP rankings. Defeat Djokovic in what would be his fourth consecutive top 20 win, and the Czech will break into the top 50 for the first time in his career.
