Jakub Mensik vs Novak Djokovic Preview & Prediction | 2026 Australian Open | Round of 16
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Jakub Mensik faces Novak Djokovic at the 2026 Australian Open.
Start date/time:
Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
Surface: Outdoor hard
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & Tennis Channel
Tickets: Visit this link for the latest Jakub Mensik vs Novak Djokovic ticket information
Jakub Mensik vs Novak Djokovic prediction
Jakub Mensik will hope to develop a reputation as Novak Djokovic’s 'Bogeyman' when the Czech faces off with the Australian Open champion in the round of 16.
The 20-year-old famously defeated the Serb 7-6 7-6 in the final of the Miami Open to claim his maiden Masters 1000 crown last year and is now bidding to take the scalp of the 10-time champion in Melbourne to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final.
Mensik has grown into the tournament after surviving a five-set test in the first round against Pablo Carreno Busta and was rock solid in a 6-2 7-6 7-6 win over Ethan Quinn on Saturday.
Djokovic will obviously be a major step up in terms of level of opposition and defeating the Serbinator in a best of five is clearly much more difficult than in any other events across the rest of the tour’s calendar.
The Czech 16th seed will be quietly confident that he will be highly competitive if his serve fires and that win in Miami showed Djokovic didn’t find it at all easy to try and engineer a break.
That said, the fourth seed is another challenge all-together at Melbourne Park and has been flawless so far despite showing some irritability in his 6-3 6-4 7-6 victory over Botic van de Zandschulp.
It will take something special to defeat Djokovic at this tournament and he has only ever lost on ten occasions here.
There is a temptation to suggest Mensik could threaten an 11th if you want to take a punt with a bit of risk, but the smarter bet is probably on the contest involving at least one tie-break or on the Czech starlet taking it beyond three. Either of those seem to be good options.
Jakub Mensik vs Novak Djokovic tip: Over 3.5 sets
