Miami champion Mensik says knee pain nearly forced him to skip event

Jakub Mensik claimed the first title of his career with a 7-6(4) 7-6(4) win over Novak Djokovic in the Miami Open final on Sunday but the Czech teenager revealed he had nearly pulled out of the tournament due to inflammation in his right knee.

Shortly before his opener against Roberto Bautista Agut, the 19-year-old was on his way to the referees room to announce his withdrawal but found that the official was out for lunch, and he visited the physios room instead.

It was just a big inflammation. I couldnt walk, I couldnt run, Mensik told reporters.

I started to treat it, started to take painkillers. Nothing was helping. During matchday it was the same ... I tried to step on the treadmill. I couldnt move. I was like, Okay, well, thats it. Im pulling out.

... I was visiting the referees office to say Guys, Im pulling out, but he was having lunch. So okay, lets visit the physio first. I was there and I said, Hey, my knee is hurting. Just fill the paper. Im going.

Mensik said that the physio worked on his knee and deemed that it was not a serious problem.

I was like, okay, lets try one more time. I stepped on the treadmill and it was the same. But I went over the pain. I was suffering in those moments, Mensik added.

After a few minutes I started to feel a little relief. I took different painkillers, which helped a little bit. I was like, Okay, lets try it. Its like 30 minutes before the match. I can walk. I can run. Lets see.

Somehow I won the first round and basically then I had one day off, which of course, for my knee was much more better. Day by day the knee