Jakub Mensik secured his place in the semi-finals of the French Open with a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(3) victory over Brazilian star Joao Fonseca. This win makes Mensik the youngest Czech man to reach this stage at a Grand Slam event.
Meanwhile, fellow teenager Mirra Andreeva also advanced to the semi-finals after defeating practice partner Sorana Cirstea 6-0, 6-3. Her performance keeps her Roland Garros run going strong.
Mensik’s triumph came on a cool evening following rain, just days after he collapsed on the red dirt of Paris during a second-round victory in sweltering conditions. He credited his mental focus and calmness for helping him win against compatriot Ivan Lendl, who reached the semi-finals at 21 years old in 1981.
The match was intense from start to finish, with both players dominating their respective sets. Mensik broke Fonseca’s serve early on, maintaining control throughout the first set. In the second set, Fonseca managed a brief comeback but faltered when serving for the set at 5-4.
Mensik sealed the victory in the third set through a tiebreak, despite wasting six match points. He praised his mental strength and ability to maintain focus under pressure.
Andreeva’s win over Cirstea keeps her in contention for a Grand Slam title this year. She believes that destiny was guiding her progress after an emotional quarter-final loss to Frenchwoman Lois Boisson last year.
The semi-finals will see Mensik face Alexander Zverev, who is on the verge of winning his first Grand Slam title. Zverev acknowledged the strong performances from young players and emphasized focusing on each match individually.
In a broader context, Russian tennis player Marta Kostyuk criticized her compatriots for remaining silent about the ongoing war in Ukraine. She believes that athletes have a responsibility to speak out against injustice and oppression.