Alexander Bublik was looking to advance to a Masters 1000 quarterfinal for the first time in four years.
The controversial Kazakh star hadn’t enjoyed the best of starts to his 2025 season, winning just three matches on the ATP Tour before heading to Madrid.
Finding his form in the Spanish capital, Bublik advanced past Alex Michelsen, Alexei Popyrin, and Andrey Rublev to book his place in the fourth round.
There, he faced off against the in-form Czech youngster, Jakub Mensik, who took down America’s Ethan Quinn and Ben Shelton in his opening two matches.
Coming unstuck in straight sets, Bublik fell to Mensik in a convincing defeat, and was very complimentary towards the 19-year-old after the match.
Alexander Bublik told umpire Mohamed Lahyani that Jakub Mensik was ‘so good’ after the match
Mensik dropped just five games as he beat Bublik, 6-3, 6-2, securing his place in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Madrid Open.
As the world number 75 went to shake the hand of umpire Mohamed Lahyani after the match, he couldn’t help but praise his opponent.
“He’s so good,” said Bublik.
Mensik was indeed ‘so good’ during the match, producing a clinical display to win in Madrid.
The Czech star converted three of his four break points as he raced into early leads in both sets on his way to victory.
| Player | Aces | Double Faults | First Serve % | Win % on First Serve | Win % on Second Serve | Break Points |
| Jakub Mensik | 10 | 1 | 63 | 77 | 82 | 3/4 |
| Alexander Bublilk | 4 | 1 | 61 | 67 | 39 | 0/3 |
Bublik was impressed with Mensik throughout their fourth-round match and shared his thoughts on the 19-year-old with Lahyani during a changeover.
“Mohamed [Lahyani], remember when tennis was easy, like five years ago, it was so easy to play tennis,” said Bublik.
“You had a bunch of random people in the top 50, barely moving.
“Now this guy [Mensik] is not even top five, not even top ten. The f— is that?”
World number 23, Mensik, will return to the court for his quarterfinal match against either Alexander Zverev or Francisco Cerundolo, while Bublik now looks ahead to next month’s Italian Open tournament.
Jakub Mensik wins ninth consecutive match at Masters 1000 level
Mensik’s win over Bublik in the fourth round of the Madrid Open was his ninth in a row at the Masters 1000 level, as he continues to impress in 2025.
- 1. 2025 Miami Open 1R – Jakub Mensik beat Roberto Bautista Agut
- 2. 2025 Miami Open 2R – Jakub Mensik beat Jack Draper
- 3. 2025 Miami Open 3R – Jakub Mensik beat Roman Safiullin
- 2025 Miami Open 4R – Jakub Mensik advanced via walkover
- 4. 2025 Miami Open QF – Jakub Mensik beat Arthur Fils
- 5. 2025 Miami Open SF – Jakub Mensik beat Taylor Fritz
- 6. 2025 Miami Open F – Jakub Mensik beat Novak Djokovic
- 7. 2025 Madrid Open 2R – Jakub Mensik beat Ethan Quinn
- 8. 2025 Madrid Open 3R – Jakub Mensik beat Ben Shelton
- 9. 2025 Madrid Open 4R – Jakub Mensik beat Alexander Bublik
Last month, Mensik beat Novak Djokovic, 7-6, 7-6, to win his maiden Masters 1000 title at the Miami Open.
Such a winning streak has seen Mensik rise to seventh in the ‘Race to Turin’ as he looks on course to qualify for this year’s ATP Finals.
| Rank | Name | 2025 Points | Official ATP Rank |
| 1 | Carlos Alcaraz | 2,740 | 3rd |
| 2 | Alexander Zverev | 2,275 | 2nd |
| 3 | Jannik Sinner | 2,000 | 1st |
| 4 | Jack Draper | 1,740 | 6th |
| 5 | Alex de Minaur | 1,685 | 7th |
| 6 | Novak Djokovic | 1,530 | 5th |
| 7 | Jakub Mensik | 1,530 | 23rd |
| 8 | Ben Shelton | 1,500 | 13th |
| QUALIFICATION CUT OFF | – | – | – |
| 9 | Holger Rune | 1,480 | 9th |
| 10 | Alejandro Davidovich Fokina | 1,360 | 29th |
It remains to be seen if Mensik can extend his Masters 1000 winning streak to ten matches and jump Djokovic for sixth in the Live ATP Race.
Mensik will return to the court to take on Zverev or Cerundolo for a place in the Madrid Open semi-finals on Wednesday, April 30.
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