The “first of many”. In that “#1st of many“, focused on the camera of Miami After the victory of his primo Master 1000 Against the idol-trial Nole Djokovic triumph that, a 19 years It hoisted it at 24 Position of the world are condensed grit and character Of Jakub fascinatesil fourth younger to grab a 1000 After Chang, Nadal, Alcaraz and Rune. As well as the first Czech to make it twenty years later Tom Berdych.
Berdych’s origins and inspiration
It was the 2005 when Berdych He raised the cup a Parigi Bercyfatally the same year in which it was born to Business80 kilometers away from Valaske Mezii ‘the city of Berdych, what is now a tall kid 1.93 that pulls edged with the serviceil straight and the Baby backhand and shows off one veronica reminiscent of a certain Adriano Panatta. If after Draper, Safiullin, Fils and Fritz, Djokovic It is the“killed” idol ruthlessly on the day he prepared to win his cents title ATPis from compatriot champion that everything is part.
Because a Businessin the Czech Republicjust 100 meters away from Casa Mensik there was a school that had tennis courts next to the playground, and a little further on a private club of a certain prestige, with a sign in plain sight at the entrance: “We are looking for the new ones Petra Kvitova e Tom Berdych“.
The discovery of tennis and youth ambitions
Said done: little Jakub went to his father Michaela computer scientist who played ice hockey and the mother, who works in marketing and was a good skier and asked to be enrolled in that Tennis school. “I looked at the kids in the neighborhood playing tennis and also observed small children intent on their first training sessions, they were starting their tennis career,” says Mensik on the ATP site. “I fascinated that sport, even if I looked a lot about the basket“said the Czech champion who is still a big fan of the NBA and gods Golden State Warriors“. Becoming Berdych and even more has always been his goal:” He has always wanted to become a professional tennis playerhis goal has always been Win all Slam and be the number 1“Dad Michal said.” Declarations of intent that recall those of a certain Sinner as a child.
The first teacher and training
The first master of the Czech was Ivo Mullerfor which Jakub and his own also have infinite gratitude. “He was an exceptional man, the best, because in addition to knowing how to teach the game he managed to give birth to the right Love for tennis In young children ” – said Papa Michal – and also taught parents to be good parents of a tennis player“, I wait far from secondary. Muller died in 2013 After a battle against cancer, a mourning that hit Meseik hard that at the time he was only seven years old.
The current team and the junior career
The coach took over in Muller Tomas Josephus which still follows him, at the head of a team where the Serbian psychologist is precious Dragan Vujovic which is helping him to keep calm In the crucial moments of the matches. And they worked well considering that Miami’s Necochetic, professional for only three yearswas one of the Best Juniores of the world and that four years ago played the first qualification match of an ATP tournament thanks to a wild card.
From the fan to Djokovic’s challenger
It was his epic performance from Junior who approached him to his Serbian idol: in 2022 Perse la Junior final of the Australian Open defeated more by the cramps than from Bruno Kuzuhara, leaving the field in a wheelchair and declaring at a press conference that his source of inspiration had always been Djokovicexternalization that hit the Serbian, with relative Invitation to Belgradein format sparring partner. Czech sparring was also convened the following year a Wimbledon But then the role must have started to go tight. Last year, when he met him for the first time in the quarterfinals a Shanghai losing in three sets he said he was there just to enjoy the moment, on the eve of the final of Miami He said he was ready to be serious. A bit like when, as a child, he decided that he would become the NUVE Berdych.