Jakub Mensik shows what he can do at the French Open. His entry into the semi-finals is still a surprise. Who is Alexander Zverev’s next opponent?
There was a scene in the quarterfinals between Jakub Mensik and Joao Fonseca that was like a compressed version of the previous ten days of the French Open in Paris. Mensik had won the first two sets against his Brazilian opponent and was now leading 6-5 and was just one point away from the semi-finals. Both Mensik and Fonseca looked tired. Like two boxers at the end of the twelfth round. In contrast to boxing, they had already held several full-distance fights in the past week and a half. Six match points came and went for the Czech. Fonseca held to make it 6:6. Then Mensik played a flawless tiebreak.
Mensik had already attracted attention in the second round. And not just that of tennis fans, but of all sports fans worldwide. The images of his full-body cramp after his match point against Argentina’s Mariano Navone in oven-hot Paris went around the world. How he lay on the floor for minutes and couldn’t get up again. Complained afterwards about the conditions “crazy” had been. The organizers have received a lot of criticism for not responding to the hot temperatures with longer breaks for the players.
The French Open – a physical one Battle of attrition
The French Open was a physical battle of attrition in the first week. In many matches it was only about who could cope better with the temperatures and not who had a better forehand or backhand.
Mensik recovered from the exertion better than expected. In the round of 16 he had to play another five sets against Andrey Rublev and had the upper hand here too. He still desperately needs the two full days break until the semi-finals on Friday afternoon. He also had problems with his leg against Fonseca: “In the first two sets I controlled the game well, but from the end of the second set my leg didn’t feel good. Luckily it was just a small problem with the muscle.”
Mensik has already proven that he can beat the big ones
Mensik’s successes are more spectacular than his game. The basic strokes look like they come from a textbook. Built on a strong serve, the Czech doesn’t have many weaknesses. He trusts his backhand more than his forehand. “This is the Czech school. Many professionals before me from the Czech Republic had a good backhand,” he revealed in an interview a year ago.
The 20-year-old experienced his breakthrough last year when he had a spectacular run in the Masters tournament in Miami, crowned by a world-class performance in the final against Novak Djokovic. He also proved that he can defeat the really big ones in Doha this year when he defeated Jannik Sinner. One of only three defeats this year for the South Tyrolean. Mensik celebrated his greatest successes on the hard courts. In his young career he already has ten wins against players from the top 10. In Miami he won against Jack Draper, Taylor Fritz and Djokovic against three players from the top shelf of the ATP.
Still, Mensik hasn’t been one of the next-generation players being talked about in recent months. Players like Fonseca, Rafael Jodar and Martin Landaluce caused a sensation in the weeks of the clay court season. Hardly anyone expected Mensik to make this run at the French Open.
Mensik lost to Zverev in Madrid
So now the breakthrough on the sand. The season on the red ashes has so far been rather poor for the man from Prostejov. An infection on his right big toe forced him to cancel the Masters in Monte Carlo, and a virus forced him to take another two weeks off. His record from six matches in preparation for the French Open shows only three wins. He lost to Alexander Zverev in three sets in the round of 16 in Madrid. “I only had three to four days of training before Madrid. And even though I won two matches there, I didn’t feel well”. he said.
Now, at the press conference after his entry into the semi-finals, Mensik felt the exertions of the evening again. While answering a question from a journalist, he felt pain in his leg. What looked like a cramp in his leg was treated by Mensik with a “just one wrong move” smiled away.
When asked about how he felt physically, he made it clear again that he felt pain in his left leg at the end of the second and beginning of the third set. “I wasn’t that focused during the minutes because I was afraid that the pain would get worse. I’m happy that it got better again at the end of the third set”he said.
The body will be an important factor for the Czech in the match against Alexander Zverev. Can he fully charge his batteries again by Friday afternoon? Zverev spent an average of just over two hours on the court in his matches, Mensik significantly longer. If he wants to make it to the final, he will have to attack early.
The two have only met once so far. In Madrid, Zverev won after three sets. There are definitely parallels in their game. Both have a strong serve and an even stronger backhand. For Zverev it will be important to show the stability that has brought him so confidently through the tournament so far. He will be the fitter, Mensik has left a lot of strength. The Czech will have to try to shorten the points. Then you can make it to the final.