Jakub Mensik makes Mallorca championships quarter-finals with win over Fognini
Eighteen-year-old Czech tennis sensation Jakub Mensik continued his impressive run at the Mallorca Championships presented by Waterdrop, advancing to his second tour-level quarter-final on Wednesday. Mensik secured his spot in the last eight with a hard-fought victory over seasoned veteran Fabio Fognini.
After recently becoming the youngest match winner in tournament history by defeating Christopher Eubanks, Mensik faced another tough challenge against Fognini. The match unfolded in a dramatic fashion with Mensik eventually prevailing 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in blustery conditions.
Reflecting on his performance, Mensik described the match as “crazy from the beginning,” acknowledging the challenging conditions and Fognini’s strong play. Despite losing the first set after initially leading 4-1, Mensik maintained his composure and mounted a comeback to clinch the victory after two hours and 40 minutes of intense competition.
During the match, Mensik showcased his serving prowess, firing 11 aces and winning 80% of his first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats. His crucial break at 5-5 in the final set proved decisive, sealing his berth in the quarter-finals.
Mensik, currently ranked World No. 85 in the ATP Rankings, has been on a mission to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in Jeddah later this year. His impressive form in Mallorca, where he also reached the quarter-finals in Doha earlier this year, underscores his rising status in men’s tennis.
Next up, Mensik will face fourth seed Alejandro Tabilo in what promises to be a compelling encounter. Their meeting will mark their first Lexus ATP Head2Head clash, setting the stage for another thrilling match at the Mallorca Championships.
In other notable results from Mallorca, British qualifier Paul Jubb continued his breakthrough run by advancing to his first tour-level quarter-final with a commanding win over Adam Walton. Jubb, a former NCAA singles champion, will look to build on his success as he prepares for a potential clash against top seed Ben Shelton in the next round.
