Joao Fonseca beats Jakub Mensik to reach the semifinals at the Next Gen Finals in Jeddah - UBITENNIS

Joao Fonseca beats Jakub Mensik to reach the semifinals at the Next Gen Finals in Jeddah

By sampaolo
4 Min Read

Joao Fonseca came back from one set down to beat Jakub Mensik 3-4 (4-7) 4-3 (10-8) 4-3 (7-5) 3-4 (4-7) 4-3 (7-5) at the Next Gen Finals in Jeddah. Fonseca advanced to the semifinal with a perfect 3-0 record. In Blue Group on his tournament debut. 

Fonseca had already secured his spot in the semifinal in the Blue Group with wins against Arthur Fils and Leaner Tien. 

Mensik saved four break points to hold serve in the third game. The Czech player went up a 3-0 lead with two mini-breaks. Fonseca pulled one mini-break backfor 1-3. Mensik earned his third mini-break to win the first set tie-break 7-4. The second set went on serve en route to the tie-break. Fonseca saved three set points before winning the final three points to clinch the second-set tie-break 10-8. 

Both players went on serve in the third set en route to the tie-break. Fonseca went up a mini-break, but Mensik pulled back on serve each time. Fonseca sealed the third tie-break with a third mini-break. 

Fonseca and Mensik held on their serve setting up a fourth tie-break. Fonseca went up a 2-0 lead, but Mensik won three consecutive points to take a 3-2 lead. Fonseca pulled back on serve to draw level to 3-3. Mensik won four of the next five points to close out the tie-break 7-4. 

Fonseca earned an early break in the first game to open up a 2-0 lead, but Mensik broke back in the sixth game to force a match tie-break. Fonseca sealed the tie-break with his only mini-break on the 12th point.  

“Before the match I had already qualified for the semifinals I will play tomorrow. I had already qualified, so I think in tennis or any sport you need to think of today, not tomorrow”, said Fonseca. 

Fonseca set up a semifinal clash against Luca Van Assche, who finished runner-up in the Red Group after beating Nishesh Basavareddy in a winner-take-all match. 

“I know Luca. He is a very solid guy. We are going to face each other for the first time. I am going to do my best and I hope I can go for the win”, said Fonseca. 

Learner Tien beat Arthur Fils 4-2 4-2 3-4 (4-7) 4-3 (7-3) to reach the semifinal at the Next Gen Finals in Jeddah. 

Tien set up an all-American semifinal clash against Alex Michelsen. It will the second all-American semifinal in the history of the Next Gen Final. 

Tien earned the first break in the opening game to win the opening set 4-2. The US player broke in the second game to seal the second set 4-2. 

The third set went on serve en route to the tie-break. Tien opened up a 2-0 lead with an early mini-break, but Fils won seven of the next nine points to win the tie-break 7-4. 

Fils saved three break points to hold serve in the second game of the fourth set. Both players traded mini-breaks at the start of the tie-break. Tien earned a second mini-break to take a 4-2 lead. Fils pulled back on serve, but Tien sealed the tie-break 7-5 on his second match point.  

“I thought I played really well today. It was great to rebound and have a good match after getting chopped by Joao Fonseca yesterday. It was great to come out here and play good tennis. I thought I maintained my level pretty well from the beginning to the end”, said Tien. 

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