PARIS — Just days ago, Jakub Mensik was whisked off the court in a wheelchair after succumbing to cramps on the clay surface.
Now, the 20-year-old Czech sensation is set to shine in the French Open semifinals.
The towering 6-foot-5 Mensik showcased his aggressive playing style, overcoming Brazil’s Joao Fonseca with a solid scoreline of 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (3) in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
This marked Mensik’s most impressive display at Roland Garros to date, especially after battling physical challenges during the intense heat of the tournament’s first week.
Following a thrilling second-round victory over Mariano Navone that required a fifth-set tiebreak, Mensik collapsed on the clay after match point, needing medical attention as Navone rushed to his side.
He eventually regained his composure, limping off the court before being escorted away in a wheelchair.
Just two days later, Mensik seemed to struggle initially, dropping the first set 6-0 to Alex de Minaur. However, he rallied back to secure three consecutive set victories.
“After experiencing cramps and severe dehydration, I had to hydrate myself effectively,” Mensik remarked after defeating De Minaur. “I returned with enough strength to compete at the highest level in these challenging conditions.”
Mensik also faced a tough five-set battle in the fourth round against Andrey Rublev.
In his clash with Fonseca, Mensik dominated the serve-and-volley points, claiming 13 out of 15 compared to Fonseca’s single attempt.
“That was one of my finest performances up to this point,” Mensik stated with pride.
His opponent, the 19-year-old Fonseca, had previously stunned the tennis world by beating 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in five thrilling sets in the third round, followed by a win over two-time runner-up Casper Ruud in the fourth.
To secure a spot in Sunday’s final, Mensik will now face the second-seeded Alexander Zverev, who triumphed over emerging Spanish player Rafael Jodar with a score of 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-3.
Though Mensik has only clinched two titles in his career, neither has been on clay. He made headlines by defeating Djokovic in straight sets to win the Miami Open last year, followed by a second title on hard courts in Auckland, New Zealand, earlier this year.
During his post-match interview on Tuesday, Mensik’s mother, Katerina Mensikova, formed a heart shape with her fingers in the stands, eliciting a smile from him.
Mensik faced a tense moment, wasting six match points in the final game before Fonseca managed to hold serve. However, he quickly regained control in the tiebreaker.
“The last 20 to 30 minutes of the match were absolutely crazy,” Mensik reflected. “I’m relieved I was able to stay mentally focused and composed.”
