Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of a historic 100th career title ended in stunning fashion at the Miami Open final on March 30, 2025, when he fell to 19-year-old Jakub Mensik in a gripping 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4) upset. The tennis world is still reeling from the shock, but Djokovic dropped an even bigger bombshell after the match: he blamed soccer icon Lionel Messi for throwing him off his game. With fans buzzing and theories swirling, this dramatic clash at Hard Rock Stadium has ignited a firestorm of speculation that’s impossible to ignore.

Djokovic arrived at the final as the clear favorite, fresh off a commanding 6-2, 6-3 semifinal win over Grigor Dimitrov, a match watched courtside by Messi. At 37, the Serbian star was the oldest ATP Masters 1000 finalist in history, poised to join Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer as the only men with 100 tour-level titles. He hadn’t dropped a set all week, his serve clicking at an impressive 87% against Dimitrov. Meanwhile, Mensik, ranked 54th and in just his second ATP final, was the long-shot contender who’d already upset Taylor Fritz in a three-set battle. The stage seemed set for Djokovic to cruise, but instead, the underdog stole the show.

The match was a tense affair. Two tiebreaks, a nearly six-hour rain delay, and a crowd of 14,000 braving the elements set the scene. Djokovic appeared off-balance, slipping on the court and nursing a stye under his right eye, though he brushed off physical excuses. Instead, he pointed to an unexpected distraction in his post-match remarks. “It’s a weird day,” he said, frustration evident. “Two tiebreaks, rain delays, and all the things happening… I didn’t feel my greatest on court.” Then came the twist: he suggested Messi’s presence rattled him. After the semifinals, he’d called it “great joy and excitement” to have Messi watching, noting how Messi’s son scored his performance an 8/10 and urged him to aim for a perfect 10 in the final. Did that playful pressure from the soccer legend tip the scales?

Mensik, on the other hand, grabbed his chance. The Czech teenager, a lifelong Djokovic fan who once trained at his Belgrade club, fired 14 aces and stayed cool under fire. “You’re the one I started playing tennis for,” he told Djokovic at the trophy ceremony, before collapsing in disbelief after clinching the win with a booming serve. At 19, he’s now the second-youngest Miami champion ever, trailing only Carlos Alcaraz. His victory didn’t just mark a personal milestone; it halted Djokovic’s bid for a seventh Miami title and kept his 2025 trophy count stuck at 99 since the Paris Olympics.

The Messi connection has the internet in a frenzy. The Inter Miami star, training nearby, was a fixture at the tournament, swapping a signed tennis shirt for his No. 10 jersey with Djokovic after the semifinals. Mensik even credited shaking Messi’s hand (and not washing it) as his good-luck charm against Fritz. For Djokovic, though, that Messi magic seemed to backfire. “I have quite a bit of pressure from Messi’s son there,” he’d joked on Friday, but by Sunday, the humor faded. Fans are divided: some see it as a lighthearted quip, others a rare glimpse of Djokovic buckling under the weight of history and a celebrity spotlight.

So, what really fueled this upset? Was it the eye irritation, the slick court, or Messi’s unintended jinx? Djokovic kept it vague, admitting only, “It hurts me to say it, but he was better.” The numbers show a tale of missed opportunities, with two tiebreaks slipping from a player who rarely loses them. For Mensik, it’s a career-defining breakthrough; for Djokovic, a stinging setback on his road to 100. As the tennis world digs deeper, one thing’s clear: this Miami final will be remembered not just for the scoreline, but for the wild Messi twist that’s left everyone talking. Will Djokovic bounce back, or has Mensik just rewritten the script for 2025?