Zverev Triumphs Over Mensik to End Madrid Quarter-Final Drought
Next up: Zverev faces Cobolli in the quarter-finals.
Date: April 28, 2026
OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP via Getty Images
Alexander Zverev shines once again in Madrid.
By ATP Staff
Alexander Zverev is back in the quarter-finals of the prestigious Mutua Madrid Open.
The German star, who faced early exits in the last three editions of this clay-court ATP Masters 1000 event, made a comeback on Tuesday by defeating Jakub Mensik with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-3.
After Mensik claimed the second set in a tiebreak, the Czech player managed to break Zverev for a 2-1 lead in the final set with an impressive forehand volley. However, Zverev kept his composure, quickly broke back and clinched five of the last six games, wrapping up the match in 2 hours and 19 minutes.
“I’m thrilled with the fight I put up,” Zverev expressed during his post-match interview. “Facing him at this altitude is really challenging, and his serve is phenomenal. I’m extremely pleased with my performance and the victory.”
With an eye on his third Madrid title, Zverev converted 81% of his first-serve points against Mensik and successfully saved two of the three break points he confronted, as noted by Infosys ATP Stats.
This victory marks Zverev’s advancement to the quarter-finals in six of the seven tournaments he has participated in this season, including all four Masters 1000 events. Impressively, he joins Jannik Sinner as the only male players this decade to reach the quarter-finals in each of the first four Masters 1000 tournaments of the season.
The second seed got off to a fantastic start in his inaugural Lexus ATP Head2Head encounter with Mensik, breaking the 20-year-old’s serve in the very first game. He maintained a strong serve throughout the match, crucially saving a break point at 5-4 30/40 with an ace, and ultimately secured the first set in just 38 minutes, having lost only three points on his first serve.
The second set saw neither player able to secure a break point, setting the stage for a tense decider where Zverev won 48% of his return points to overcome Mensik.
Mensik, who reached the quarter-finals in Madrid in 2025, aimed to replicate his success but found it challenging to counter Zverev’s powerful serving. Earlier this season, the 20-year-old notched up a title at the ATP 250 event in Auckland and achieved a semi-final finish in Doha, famously defeating Jannik Sinner.
With this win, Zverev’s record at the Caja Magica improves to 28-6, as indicated by the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. The two-time champion is set to clash with Flavio Cobolli for a shot at the semi-finals. Zverev currently leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head series 2-1, though Cobolli did defeat him in the recent Munich semi-finals.
Earlier on Tuesday, Cobolli triumphed over Daniil Medvedev with a score of 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-2, breaking serve decisively in the ninth game of the third set to seal the match in 2 hours and 19 minutes.
“Incredible improvement,” Zverev commented on his next opponent. “He can be streaky, but when he’s on, he’s exceptional. His recent performances show that he’s a serious contender.”
