After the rise of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in recent years, Jakub Mensik believes it is time for him and others his age to do the same.
The Czech 19-year-old has knocked out sixth seed Casper Ruud 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, in the second round of the Australian Open. Making it the fifth time in nine meetings that he has beaten a top 10 player so far in his career. Mensik’s triumph occurred 24 hours after Jaoa Fonseca, who is a year younger than him, defeated Andrey Rublev.
“All the young players playing here (in Melbourne), even when they are not here, they are trying their best to reach the same level. For example, Jannik and Carlos, a few years ago they were still teenagers,” said Mensik.
“We can approach the same and go by their steps and try to reach the same level, compete against them. I can really be able to try to reach the same level, to keep improving.
“It’s always great that there is a new blood. We can see that tennis is moving on. We can see different or new names at the tournaments. For the fans, for the tennis, for everything, it’s really great. New blood is coming.”
Mensik is one of three teenagers to have made it through to at least the second round in Melbourne along with Fonseca and Learner Tien. The trio all played in the Next Gen finals last month which was staged in Saudi Arabia. The event has a similar format to the ATP Finals but is specifically for the highest-ranked players aged 21 or under.
“Everyone was still in the pre-season. We were already playing and had a couple of matches before the season started.” He said.
“That helped us a lot I guess because all of us played really great matches.
“Also the preparation tournaments, we were doing really well. That’s the most important thing at the beginning of the season to have the match count and to come into a Grand Slam with you already played a couple of matches before.”
It is the third time the youngster has reached the last 32 of a Grand Slam after doing so on two previous occasions at the US Open. Last year he reached the final of the Doha Open in what was only his third appearance in a Tour-level event. More recently, he began this season by reaching back-to-back quarter-finals in Brisbane and Auckland.
This year’s Australian Open is the first time two teenagers have defeated top 10 opponents in a Grand Slam draw since 2006 when Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic did so at Wimbledon.
