19-year-old Jakub Mensik marched into his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final at the Miami Open presented by Itaú on Thursday, after defeating Arthur Fils. He will face Taylor Fritz for a spot in Sunday’s final.
It was tough. I kept trying to tell myself that he played well and it’s not as much on me, so try not to get frustrated. I think, my best looks there, I had three match points seeing a second serve from him. I think I really have to win one of those. I can’t be too frustrated with the 6/5 point; I honestly hit a really, really good serve and he fully committed. If I would’ve gone 110 mph wide, I probably would’ve aced him. He committed hard for the return and he crushed it. I got to give it to him; he raised his level a lot. Taylor Fritz
In the other semi-final, Novak Djokovic will meet Grigor Dimitrov, after the former World No. 1 got past another home favourite, Sebastian Korda, in two tight sets.
Mensik, a towering Czech ranked 54 in the world, showcased a powerful serve that proved too much for Fils, winning 7-6(5) 6-1 in 75 minutes.
“It feels incredible. I think it’s the biggest result so far in my career, so I’m glad I just kept going since the first round,” said Mensik. “That’s the key, to keep the focus during the two weeks, because it’s always tough. The job is not done.”
Fils had celebrated one of the biggest wins of his career on Wednesday when he defeated top seed Alexander Zverev but struggled to replicate that form against the impressive teenager, who previously upset Britain’s Jack Draper in the 2nd round in two tiebreak sets.
The Frenchman had come through three-set battles with Frances Tiafoe and Zverev, showing signs of tiredness.
In the youngest Masters 1000 quarter-final since Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune at the 2022 Rolex Paris Masters, Mensik capitalised on a weary performance from Fils, breaking out to an early 4-1 lead. However, he let the Frenchman back into the contest, who forced a tiebreak where the Czech won six of the final eight points.
The big Czech steadied himself and carried that momentum into the second set, striking 26 winners, including 13 aces.
This significant moment in his young career propels him 20 spots to No. 34 in the live rankings.
“Before every season, I set my goals that I want to reach during the season,” said Mensik, now leading the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah as he aims for a second consecutive appearance at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. “I have an incredible team. All of them are doing a great job, which is the key always. After great weeks, after worse weeks, we still are working so hard, and it’s paying off.”
Taylor Fritz (R) was made to fight hard for his 3-set win over Matteo Berrettini and will meet Jakub Mensik on Friday for a place in the Miami final.
© Al Bello/Getty Images
The first Czech man to reach a Miami semi-final since Tomas Berdych in 2015, Mensik will take on former champion and 3rd seed Taylor Fritz, who fought his way past Matteo Berrettini, the 29th seed from Italy, into the Last 4.
Fritz recovered from letting slip six match points in a dramatic second set to maintain a perfect record against Berrettini, ultimately overcoming the Italian 7-5 6-7(7) 7-5 after an exhilarating 2 hour, 44 minute quarter-final.
Earlier he had held two consecutive match points on return at 6-5, including one he squandered by missing a backhand down-the-line return by inches.
“It was tough. I kept trying to tell myself that he played well and it’s not as much on me, so try not to get frustrated,” Fritz said, reflecting on the end of the second set. “I had three match points seeing a second serve from him, and I think I really have to win one of those.”
As Berrettini forced a decider, Fritz remained composed, demonstrating positive emotions to recover his focus as the 28-year-old Italian applied constant pressure throughout the night.
After the first set, neither player surrendered serve until Fritz secured a critical break at 5-5 in the deciding set.
Facing two break points at 5-5, 15/40 in the third, Berrettini fired two massive first serves to stay alive. However, on Fritz’s 4th break point of the set, the American seized his chance on the Italian’s second serve.
“There are two options: get frustrated, lose, and then be even more frustrated about all the chances I blew, or regroup and get the win,” Fritz said. “Now I can sleep tonight and not be so mad at the chances I blew.”
Fritz, who fired 16 aces to Berrettini’s 17, is into his 6th ATP Masters 1000 semi-final, and his first in Miami.
Novak Djokovic is making records, beating Sebastian Korda to reach his 8th Miami semi-final and eyeing his 7th title here.
© Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Meanwhile, Djokovic became the oldest ATP Masters 1000 semi-finalist after defeating Korda, 6-3 7-6(4), in a quarter-final clash that was postponed from Wednesday.
At 37 years and 10 months, Djokovic surpassed Roger Federer, who reached the Last 4 in Indian Wells and Miami at 37 years and 7 months in 2019.
The 4th seed was in lockdown mode on Thursday, continuing his chase for a record-breaking 7th title in South Florida and a 100th tour-level trophy.
Djokovic was nearly flawless on serve in the opening set, dropping just a single point behind his first delivery, which he placed with precise accuracy. He closed the set elegantly, winning the final 12 points, finishing with 12 of his 22 serves unreturned, and winning 84% of his first-serve points in the 82-minute match.
“As good as one can feel about his serve,” Djokovic stated. “Unbelievable serving the whole tournament; I’ve been serving really well. Especially today, and I needed it because Sebastian, in the second set, was just making me run, and playing really well from the back of the court.”
Korda raced to a 3-0 lead in the second set and later served for it at 5-3, but Djokovic elevated his level, engaging in longer rallies at crucial moments and forcing errors from the American, who was two points away from capturing the set on return at 6-5.
“It took some serves to get out of trouble,” Djokovic continued. “I was 0-3, 0/30 down, had some good serves and put myself in a position to break back, which I did. The tiebreak could have gone either way, but again, my serve got me out of trouble. 5/4, serve winner. 6/4, ace to finish the match. I’ll take that as a highlight from the match today,” he added.
The Serbian now leads the 24-year-old Korda 2-0 in their head-to-head, and ranked 5th, Djokovic improves to 48-7 at the hard-court event.
Two wins shy of claiming a 7th trophy in Miami and first since triumphing at Crandon Park in 2016, Djokovic aims to break his tie with Andre Agassi for most titles at the ATP Masters 1000 event.
Into his 8th Miami semi-final and a record-extending 79th at Masters 1000 level, Djokovic will next face 14th seed Grigor Dimitrov, whom he leads 12-1 in their head-to-head.
Dimitrov advanced on Wednesday night, beating Argentine Francisco Cerundolo, 6-7(6) 6-4 7-6(3).
