Jakub Mensik and Joao Fonseca both secured huge top-ten wins during the opening week of the Australian Open.
Perhaps the biggest shock of the Australian Open came on Tuesday when Fonseca beat Andrey Rublev in the first round.
Fonseca impressed fans with a first-career top-ten win, taking down the three-time quarter-finalist in straight sets.
Czech teenager Jakub Mensik continued the trend of young stars impressing down under, as he beat sixth seed Casper Ruud to book his place in the third round on Wednesday.
It was the 19-year-old’s first top-ten win at the Grand Slam level, as he condemned the Norwegian to the third second-round loss at the Australian Open of his career.
Speaking after his second-round win, Mensik revealed why he thinks some of the ATP Tour’s youngest stars have been so impressive at this year’s tournament.
Jakub Mensik thinks Next Gen ATP Finals prepared him and Joao Fonseca for big Australian Open wins
Speaking after his win over Ruud, Mensik revealed what he thinks may have contributed to his and Fonseca’s success at the Australian Open.
“Yeah, I mean, the timing of the Next Gen Finals, it was before the Christmas,” he said.
“Everyone was still in the pre-season, we were already playing, and had a couple of matches before the season started.
“I mean, that helped us a lot, I guess.
“That’s the most important thing in the beginning of the season to have the match count and to come on the Grand Slam with you already played couple matches before.”
Mensik reached the quarter-finals in Brisbane, ahead of the Australian Open, losing out to big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
The 19-year-old went on to say that he is pleased to see ‘new blood’ emerging in men’s tennis.
“All the young players which are playing here, even which are not here, they are trying the best to reach the same level,” said Mensik.
“For example, like Jannik [Sinner] and Carlos [Alcaraz], they were a few years ago, two years ago still teenagers.
“We can approach the same and go by their steps and try to reach the same level, compete against them.
“At least I have it like that, I can really be able to try to reach the same level, to keep improving.
“It’s great that there is new blood always, we can see that tennis is moving on, we can see different or new names on the tournaments, for the fans, for the tennis, for everything, it’s really great.
“That’s it, new blood is coming.”
It’s not just Sinner and Alcaraz, that Mensik is looking up to, as his fellow young players, and Czech stars provide inspiration.
“Obviously when you can see all the young players, even for me Czech players that we are playing, they are improving, we are pushing each other forward.
“We are not, like, rivals, but they are pushing me forward.
“In this case, for me, it’s obviously Tomas [Machac] and Jiri [Lehecka], which are all the time in front of me. They are improving every tournament, every year.
“I can try to go by their steps.
“Obviously the Next Gen, like Joao [Fonseca], Alex [Michelsen], and all of the others.”
Jakub Mensik and Joao Fonseca match Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray feat at the 2025 Australian Open
Mensik’s win over Ruud was perhaps the most impressive of his young career, as he dismantled the three-time Slam finalist in four sets.
The Czech star never looked to be in trouble, as he booked his place in the next round where he’ll face off against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
With the win, he became the second teenager to beat a top-ten opponent at this year’s Australian Open, after Fonseca’s stunning victory over Rublev the day before.
The pair became the first teenage duo to record top-ten wins at a Grand Slam since Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, at Wimbledon in 2006.
Murray and Djokovic are working together at this year’s tournament, with the Brit joining the 24-time Slam champions coaching team, but enjoyed a lot of success at youngsters 19 years ago.
- 2R – 19 year old Novak Djokovic beat [8] Tommy Robredo
- 3R – 19 year old Andy Murray beat [5] Andy Roddick
It remains to be seen if Mensik and Fonseca can match the career success of Djokovic and Murray, but they’ll certainly hope to keep their Australian Open dreams alive heading into the second week.
Fonseca will return to the court to take on Lorenzo Sonego on Thursday, January 16, while Mensik will play Davidovich Fokina on Friday, January 17.
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