Mensik tames Fonseca to reach French Open semi-finals / Photo: Thomas SAMSON - AFP
Mensik tames Fonseca to reach French Open semi-finals
Czech youngster Jakub Mensik produced a brilliant display to upstage Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca and reach the French Open semi-finals on Tuesday.
The 20-year-old Mensik beat Fonseca 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) in the night session on Court Philippe Chatrier to extend his best run at a Grand Slam.
Mensik, the world number 27, will take on second seed and title favourite Alexander Zverev on Friday for a place in the final.
"It was one of my best performances so far," said Mensik. "I knew it was going to be a tough one. In the end of the match there were some incredible shots."
It was the youngest Roland Garros men's quarter-final since a 20-year-old Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic in 2006. Djokovic was 19 at the time.
A thrilling third-round win over Djokovic two decades on marked a coming of age for Fonseca, who backed it up with a victory over two-time runner-up Casper Ruud to advance to his first Grand Slam quarter-final.
But Mensik, whose best prior result at the majors was an injury-curtailed run to the last 16 at this year's Australian Open, showed no fear against Fonseca, the 28th seed.
Mensik secured the opening set with a break in the fifth game, repeating the feat at the same stage of the second before breaking once more to surge into a commanding two-set lead.
The Czech was broken at the outset of the third set but quickly hit back. Fonseca edged ahead to lead 5–3, yet Mensik saved a set point and battled his way back on serve.
Fonseca then produced a remarkable escape, saving six match points to force a tie-break, but Mensik finally subdued his stubborn opponent at the seventh time of asking.
R.Abate--IM
