Indian Wells champion Jack Draper was defeated by Jakub Mensik, who unleashed a barrage of powerful shots in a Miami Open match that was interrupted by a mass fan exodus.
Czech talent Mensik served 21 aces to win in straight sets against Draper, with scores of 7-6 (7-2) and 7-6 (7-3).
Draper, the British No. 1 and world No. 7, entered the match confidently after his recent title win in California. However, Mensik quickly dismissed this confidence with an impressive performance, winning both tie-breaks decisively.
Draper aimed for the `Sunshine Double` but couldn`t capitalize on his single break point opportunity in the second set.
Mensik`s victory advances him to the third round, where he will play Reilly Opelka, who came back from a set down to defeat Danish 11th seed Holger Rune 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).
Fan Exodus During Second Set
The match was temporarily halted due to a bizarre situation. Brazilian fans, who had been waiting in the Grandstand for up to three hours, expressed their anger upon learning that Joao Fonseca`s match with Ugo Humbert was moved to the main stadium. This announcement caused a mass exodus while Draper was leading 4-3.
The 23-year-old Draper requested a pause due to the distraction, and the umpire waited several minutes for the fans to leave.
Laura Robson commented courtside that the fans` boos were justified as they had waited for hours only to find out about the venue change. She added that it created a difficult environment for the players, who were trying to focus amidst the crowd`s drama.
Commentator Jonathan Overend noted that many Brazilian fans were leaving, unless Mensik happened to be their second favorite player.
Despite the disruption, the match`s momentum didn`t shift. Draper couldn`t disrupt Mensik`s rhythm, especially on his serve, in conditions different from Indian Wells.
Draper mentioned that he initially didn`t understand the commotion but could empathize with the fans` frustration and hoped they could still watch their desired match.
Miami Open organizers stated that due to the early finish on the main stadium and high interest in Fonseca vs. Humbert, they moved the match to the main court to accommodate more spectators.
Mensik`s Strong Performance
Draper, seeded sixth and newly in the top 10, started strongly with an early break. However, Mensik broke back to level at 3-3 and controlled the match from there.
Mensik capitalized on Draper`s errors in the first tie-break. In the second set, despite Draper saving six break points, Mensik won the tie-break again, securing a significant victory with his 21st ace.
Mensik emphasized the importance of his serve, stating it was key to his victory and helped him stay focused despite the distracting crowd.
Draper will now focus on the clay season. Emma Raducanu remains the British hope in Florida, facing McCartney Kessler in the third round.
Other Match Results
Jacob Fearnley was defeated by Alexander Zverev 6-2, 6-4. Zverev expressed satisfaction with his performance and hopes to continue improving after an early exit in Indian Wells.
Coleman Wong achieved a significant victory by defeating Ben Shelton 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 7-6 (7-5). Wong, based at Rafael Nadal`s academy, dedicated his win to Hong Kong and his support team.
Andrey Rublev was upset by Zizou Bergs, losing 7-5, 6-4.
Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur, and Frances Tiafoe also progressed with wins in their respective matches.
Women`s Tournament Update
In the women`s tournament, Aryna Sabalenka advanced easily after Elena-Gabriela Ruse retired. Danielle Collins also progressed, winning her ninth consecutive match at the event. Ons Jabeur retired due to injury against Jasmine Paolini. Coco Gauff defeated Maria Sakkari, and Naomi Osaka won a lengthy match against Hailey Baptiste.
Commentary by Annabel Croft
Annabel Croft commented that Jack Draper played well but faced exceptional play from Mensik. She highlighted Mensik`s serving quality, pattern reading, patience, and variety in his game.
