Next gen
#NextGenATP Mensik explodes in the last eight in Vienna
A perfect match for the Czech who will face de Minaur or Cobolli in the ATP 500
October 24, 2024
in|motion| Bildagentur Zolles KG | Michael Meindl
Jakub Mensik advances to the quarter finals of the fifth tour level 2024 Erste Bank Open.
Written by Jerome Coombe
Jakub Mensik’s breakout year on the ATP Tour shows no signs of slowing down as we approach the end of the season.
The #NextGenATP star cruised to a 6-3, 7-6(7) win over Miomir Kecmanovic on Thursday to book a place in the last eight at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, his fifth tour-level quarter-final this year. . Mensik was clinical throughout the match, where he won 86 percent (48/56) of the points after his first delivery and saved four break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats.
Eligibility 🔜 QFs@mensik_jakub_ with another strong performance to continue his winning streak in Vienna! #ErsteBankOpen | @ErsteBankOpen pic.twitter.com/QgeBRvfLR3
– ATP Tour (@atptour) October 24, 2024
With the victory in one hour and 53 minutes, the 19-year-old moved up to third place in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, trailing second-placed Alex Michelsen by just 25 points. After a great season that has seen him climb inside the Top 50 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, Mensik is in strong contention to make his debut at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by the PIF in December.
Mensik’s ability to combine athleticism and craft at the net has been instrumental in his rise through the ranks. It appeared to be against Kecmanovic, backed up by a half-volley to take the lead in the second break.
At the ATP 500 in Vienna, Mensik battled through two qualifying matches before knocking off eighth-seeded Alexei Popyrin in their opening match. After facing Kecmanovic in straight sets, the Czech qualifier will next face World No. 10 Alex de Minaur or Italian Flavio Cobolli in the last eight.
Mensik is a regular at beating Top 10 opposition (4-3 overall), having defeated both Andrey Rublev and Grigor Dimitrov en route to a quarter-final upset of Novak Djokovic at the Rolex Shanghai Masters last month.
