Jakub Mensik made a winning start to his Miami Open title defence, but he was not entirely happy with his performance against Adam Walton.
Mensik beat Novak Djokovic to win the Miami Open last year, where he became just the second unseeded winner of the ATP 1000 tournament.
The Czech has produced some impressive results since then, including Mensik beating Jannik Sinner just last month.
However, illness hampered Mensik in Indian Wells, and he has admitted that the first set of his opening match against Walton was ‘horrible’.
Jakub Mensik admits he was ‘horrible’ in the first set of his match at the Miami Open
Mensik beat world number 85 Walton 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 to extend his unbeaten run in main draw matches at the Miami Open to seven matches.
When speaking in his on-court interview after the match, Mensik admitted that he found it difficult to find rhythm on the Miami Open courts in the early stages of the match.
“Today was a very tough one for me and a really great victory, I mean much needed especially after last week, like you said I’ve been dealing with illness,” said Mensik.
“Really difficult to find the rhythm to come back to the match rhythm, which obviously Adam [Walton] was already here, three matches, for me first match. Didn’t know about the court that much, so I was finding myself on the court, but the longer the match was going, I was feeling more and more comfortable.
“So, I’m really happy I find myself back-to-back in the second and third set. Obviously really happy that mentally I stayed focussed and tough, especially after last. Like I’m saying, super happy that the pressure that was around, that I tried not to focus on that and focussed on my game and tried to live in this moment, because obviously new week and new tournament like every week.”
Who will join Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in a new ‘big three’?
After losing the first set of the match, Mensik went off court to take a bathroom break, and he was asked exactly what he told himself in this break.
“The first set it was horrible from my side,” admitted the 20-year-old. “Like I’m saying, I’ve been trying to find the rhythm that I really needed so after the first set I went to the toilet, tried to really recover myself a little bit, tried to think about positive things that was in the first set.
“I’m happy that in the beginning of the second and third set I came back on court and actually tried to take the moment to my side. Of course when I started to lead, little break, I started to feel a little bit different. I tried a few strokes that I did a lot of mistakes in the first set, so yeah I’m happy with this match that I really needed before playing the big guys.”
Should there be a fifth Grand Slam?
If so, which tournament would it be?
Jakub Mensik faces potential drop down the rankings
After enjoying a breakout season on the ATP Tour following his Miami Open victory last year, Mensik is ranked as the world number 13 coming into his title defence.
This is just one spot below his career-high rank of world number 12, but Mensik could now face a drop down the rankings.
Mensik’s next opponent is the in-form Frances Tiafoe, which places him at high risk of dropping down the rankings.
If Tiafoe was to beat Mensik then he would at least drop out of the top 25 in the ATP rankings, and could fall even further.
While this puts Mensik under high pressure, he is likely to be encouraged by winning his only previous match against Tiafoe in the Davis Cup last year.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
