Jakub Mensik produced one of his best-ever performances to defeat Joao Fonseca on Tuesday evening.
Mensik defeated Fonseca 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 on Court Philippe Chatrier to qualify for his first Grand Slam semi-final.
The Czech star left many staggered by his level of play throughout Tuesday’s contest, including John McEnroe.
Who are you backing to make it further at Wimbledon and why? Jakub Mensik or Joao Fonseca? 🤔
Mensik has demonstrated the grit and determination needed to win Grand Slam events; and he is now a firm contender for the title in Paris.
Mensik, at 20 years old, has already achieved so much in the game – winning a Masters 1000 title and reaching the ATP top 20 – and he made tennis history once again on Tuesday evening.
Jakub Mensik’s historic feat in Paris
Jakub Mensik has made history in the French capital after defeating Joao Fonseca on Tuesday.
Mensik has become the first man born in 2004 or later to reach a Grand Slam semi-final.
He is also the first Czech man to reach a Grand Slam semi-final in almost a decade, since Tomas Berdych qualified for the 2017 Wimbledon semi-finals.
The Czech star, only 20 years old, will now seek to become the first man born in 2004 or later to reach a Grand Slam final when he plays Alexander Zverev later this week.
The Roland Garros field
- Alexander Zverev
- Jakub Mensik
- Flavio Cobolli
- Matteo Arnaldi
- Matteo Berrettini
- Felix Auger-Aliassime
Zverev, the overwhelming favourite to win his first Grand Slam title following the shock defeats of Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, beat Spanish youngster Rafael Jodar in straight sets on Tuesday afternoon.
Zverev and Mensik played each other for the first time two months ago.
The German emerged victorious from their Madrid Open contest, beating Mensik 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 in the Manolo Santana Stadium.
“I’m very happy with the battle,” Zverev said in his on-court interview, as reported by the ATP Tour.
“Against him, in altitude, very, very difficult. He serves incredible. So yeah, I’m definitely happy with the match and happy with the win.”
Alexander Zverev equals Carlos Alcaraz in Paris
With victory over Rafael Jodar on Tuesday, Zverev has matched one of Carlos Alcaraz’s personal feats.
As per OptaAce, only two players have now won more men’s singles matches at Grand Slams than Alexander Zverev this decade.
Zverev has now won 91 Grand Slam matches this decade, the same as Carlos Alcaraz.
Only Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner have won more major matches this decade than Zverev and Alcaraz.
Djokovic leads the way with 124 triumphs, while Sinner has 93 victories to his name.
Grand Slam men’s singles match wins this decade
- Novak Djokovic – 124
- Jannik Sinner – 93
- Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev – 91
- Daniil Medvedev – 75
Zverev will overtake Alcaraz in the list if he defeats Mensik on Friday.
