Mensik conquers Rublev 6-3, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3 for maiden French Open quarterfinal
While Jakub Mensik led Andrey Rublev 2-0 in the head-to-head, they had not faced off since 2024 and never on the dirt. As the top seeds continue to fall, those that remain must balance the privilege the opportunity affords with the weight of expectation.
Mensik, from the Czech Republic, has two career titles, including the 2025 Miami Open, where he dispatched Novak Djokovic in the final. He’s already surpassed his best result on the terre battue, a second-round appearance in 2024. The twenty-year-old reached a career high rank of #12 this past March but is currently ranked 28th and seeded 26th.
Rublev from Russia reached a career high rank of #5 in 2021, but is currently #13 and seeded 11th. The twenty-eight-year-old has won six titles on the dirt but has yet to progress beyond the quarters at a grand slam. During this fortnight in Paris, Mensik survived an epic five-setter against Mariano Navone and needed four to defeat Alex de Minaur, while Rublev lost two sets through three rounds.
Mensik opened the match with an ace out wide, and though he faced a break point, he held with two consecutive monster serves. Rublev struck two winners including an ace out wide but dumped serve with a mishit inside-out forehand. Mensik donated three unforced errors, faced two deuce and break points, yet consolidated the break for 3-0.
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Rublev missed 5/5 first serves yet held easily to 15, while Mensik gifted a double fault but held for 4-1 with two consecutive forehand winners. Rublev faced three break points and four deuces yet held for 2-4 with two colossal crosscourt forehands.
Mensik faced a break point and deuce but held with three consecutive winners, including an ace out wide. Rublev, serving with new balls and to stay in the set, opened with two consecutive unforced errors but held for 3-5 with two winners, including an ace up the tee.
The Czech serving for the set missed three consecutive first serves but secured it with two spectacular groundstroke winners. Usually the one to dictate rallies, Rublev was forced into a more defensive posture. Rublev continued to struggle with his toss and while he struck two consecutive winners to save double break point, faced two deuce points before holding. Mensik opened the fourth with two consecutive backhand winners and held for 2-2 with an ace up the tee and a forehand winner down the middle.
The Russian missed four consecutive first serves and faced triple break point, but reached deuce with three consecutive winners, including his fourth ace. He faced two additional deuce and break points before dropping serve with a netted backhand.
Mensik continued to find success in the forecourt as he consolidated the break at love. Rublev made 3/5 first serves and held easily to 15 for 3-4, while Mensik, serving with new balls, held at love for 5-3.
Rublev serving to stay in the set held to 15 with a remarkable crosscourt backhand despite gifting his first double fault. Mensik serving for the set missed two consecutive first serves and faced double break point when Rublev ripped a running crosscourt forehand pass and converted when Mensik netted a forehand.
Level at five, Rublev made 5/6 first serves and consolidated the break for 6-5. Mensik serving to stay in the set and force the breaker, missed 3/5 first serves but held to 15 with a brilliant half-volley crosscourt backhand. While Rublev led 3-1 in the breaker, Mensik leveled with his sixth ace. Although the Czech donated another double fault, he converted his second set point at 7-6 with a blistering backhand down the line.
Mensik served first in the third and dumped serve with three unforced errors off the ground. Rublev missed 3/6 first serves but held to 30 to consolidate the break for 2-0. Mensik hit two outstanding backhand winners and held to 15 to get on the board, while Rublev made 4/6 first serves and held to 30 for 3-1.
Mensik made 5/5 first serves and held to 15, while Rublev struck his fifth ace and held at love. Mensik opened the seventh with his seventh ace and held at love for 3-4 while Rublev returned the favor, holding at love with his sixth ace.
Mensik, serving to stay in the set, opened with a double fault and, with another, faced double break point yet held for 4-5 with two consecutive winners. Rublev opened the tenth with an extraordinary inside-in forehand and though he donated another double fault, converted his third set point when Mensik missed wide with a crosscourt forehand.
Mensik served first in the fourth and dropped serve following four unforced errors. Rublev missed 3/6 first serves, including a double fault, and gave back the break when Mensik ripped the forehand return inside-in.
The 26th seed serving with new balls committed four consecutive errors to give back the break. Rublev opened the fourth with his sixth ace and held to love to consolidate the break for 3-1. Mensik gifted four consecutive unforced errors, including his sixth double fault and dumped serve. Rublev opened the sixth with his fourth double fault and faced five deuce and five break points before holding with a massive inside-out forehand to consolidate the break for 5-1.
Mensik serving to stay in the set opened with two consecutive errors but held for 2-5 with two consecutive winners, including an ace up the tee. The former world #5 served for the set and clinched it following four consecutive errors from Mensik.
Several hours before, it seemed the Czech would prevail in straights, but the momentum seemed firmly in the hands of the tour veteran. Mensik served first in the decider and held to love with an ace up the tee and a winning serve and volley play.
Rublev opened with a splendid inside-in forehand and with two additional winners off that wing, held to 30 to level. Mensik missed 3/5 first serves, including a double fault, but with his tenth ace, held to 30 for 2-1. Rublev, serving with new balls, reached 40-15 but then struggled and faced two deuce points before holding while Mensik made 4/4 first serves, including an ace out wide, to hold at love.
Rublev opened the sixth with an amazing inside-out forehand and with his seventh ace, held to 30 while Mensik held at love for 4-3. Rublev was called for a foot fault on the opening point, faced a break point, and dropped serve when Mensik pummeled a forehand inside-in.
The Czech served for the match and a coveted spot in the final eight. He opened with his twelfth ace and though he followed with his seventh double fault and faced two deuce and two break points, secured victory with a crosscourt forehand volley and his thirteenth ace.
It was a closely contested match marked by power, variety, and drama. After 3 ¾ hours, Mensik finished with four more points than his opponent. He was exemplary on serve, winning 77% of first and 43% of second serve points. He was equally effective when returning, winning 30% of first and 51% of second serve return points. He was clutch when facing a break point, saving 10/15 while converting 4/18.
Awaiting in the quarters is teen phenom, Joao Fonseca. The nineteen-year-old from Brazil with two career titles is currently ranked #30 and seeded 28th. In the third round this fortnight, he came back from two sets down to defeat former world #1 and three-time Roland Garros champion, Novak Djokovic. In the following round, he conquered two-time Roland Garros finalist and former world #2, Casper Ruud.
Mensik will need legs and laser focus to be competitive in this quarterfinal duel. While the Brazilian leads the head-to-head 1-0, it came via a walkover last fall in Basel. This will be their first tour-level match and first on clay.