Jakub Mensik becomes youngest player to register win over top-five player since Carlos Alcaraz in 2021

The feat comes after working out Andrey Rublev in Quarterfinals of Qatar Open

Jakub Mensik’s stellar run at the Qatar Open in Doha continues. The 18-year-old Czech player reached his first tour-level semi-final after upsetting World No. 5 Andrey Rublev 6-4, 7-6 (6) on Thursday. Mensik fired 10 aces and saved two set points in the second set to end the Russian’s journey in Doha in 98 minutes.

This was Mensik’s first top-five win, and he became the youngest player to defeat a top-five opponent since Carlos Alcaraz, who was 17 when he beat Stefanos Tsitsipas at the 2021 US Open.

Mensik had already shown his potential by knocking out former World No. 1 Andy Murray in a marathon 3 hour, 23 minutes second round match. He also breezed past fifth-seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6(3), 6-4 in the first round, handing the Spaniard his second consecutive first-round exit after losing to Jan-Lennard Struff in Rotterdam.

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Mensik will face wildcard Gael Monfils in the semifinals, who defeated Lorenzo Sonego 7-6(3), 6-4 to reach his first semifinal since February 2020. The other semifinal will feature Alexei Popyrin and Karen Khachanov, who advanced after their respective opponents Alexander Bublik and Emil Ruusuvuori retired due to injuries. Khachanov, the second seed, is the only seeded player left in the singles draw.

Mensik is not the only teenager making waves this week. At the Rio Open, 17-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca delighted the home crowd with two impressive wins over Chilean Cristian Garin 6-4, 6-4 and seventh seed Arthur Fils 6-0, 6-4. Fonseca, a wildcard, played both matches on the court named after former Brazilian World No. 1 Gustavo ‘Guga’ Kuerten. He will face Pablo Andujar in the quarterfinals.

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