Jakub Mensik ends the run of Joao Fonseca in straight sets to book a semi-final showdown with Alexander Zverev at the 2026 French Open

J. Menšík vs J. Fonseca | Roland-Garros

Men's Singles | Quarter-final | 02.06.2026 | Court Philippe-Chatrier

Finished

J. Menšík (26)

J. Fonseca (28)

7⁷

6³

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HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights: Mensik claims thrilling three-set victory over fellow young gun Fonseca

Video credit: TNT Sports

22:22

MENSIK STAT

22:18

GAME, SET AND MATCH! - FONSECA 4-6 3-6 6-7 MENSIK

Jakub Mensik reaches his first Grand Slam semi-final as he ends the run of fellow rising starlet Joao Fonseca in straight sets.

The Czech was imperious in the first two sets but had to scrap hard in the third, saving set points and blowing SIX match points heading into a tie-break.

To his credit, the 20-year-old regrouped in the breaker to take it 7-3 on a SEVENTH match point via a re-drop.

The 26th seed progresses after a thrilling two hours and 36 minutes and will now face Alexander Zverev in the last four.

'What a talent he is' - Mensik makes his maiden Grand Slam semi-final

Video credit: TNT Sports

22:15

TIE-BREAK LATEST - FONSECA 2-4 MENSIK

Mensik nicks a mini break with a sensational bit of retrieval low to his right to execute an acute-angled re-drop.

The Czech charges 4-1 up with an ace down the T but Fonseca responds to stay firmly in the hunt heading to the change of ends.

Fonseca with 'unbelievable' volley - 'How in the world did he hit that?'

Video credit: TNT Sports

22:11

FONSECA 4-6 3-6 6-6 MENSIK

Survival mode – activated!

Mensik works his way to two match points but nets a forehand and then slams an overhead wide.

The Czech gets a third chance from deuce but Joao scrambles to safety and then staves off a fourth and then a fifth to somehow stay in the hunt as the game passes the 10-minute mark!

Mensik has a look at a SIXTH match point, but the Brazilian unleashes one of those trademark forehand winners and then comes up with a wonderful volley before Jakub jabs a backhand into the net.

Incredible - what drama!

21:58

FONSECA 4-6 3-6 5-6 MENSIK

Fonseca manages to play catch up to 30-30 with a supreme counter-punched forehand pass on the run.

The Brazilian digs deep in a pulsating rally and conjures up a stunning crosscourt lob that leaves him to touch down a volley and earn a break point.

Mensik silences the jubilant crowd with a thumping overhead and an ace to turn the game around before another huge delivery seals a hold that piles the scoreboard pressure the way of the teenager.

21:51

BREAK! - FONSECA 4-6 3-6 5-5 MENSIK

Mensik looks to raise the stakes with a line-licking forehand winner and Joao complicates matters with a backhand long.

The Brazilian lands an ace but follows it with a double fault to cough up a break back point.

The 28th seed wipes it out with his second ace of the game, but Jakub unleashes a sweet backhand down the line to earn a second bite of the cherry.

The Czech can’t convert, saves a set point and then narrowly misses out on a third and fourth chance before Joao nets off both flanks to allow his opponent to break back on the fifth!

21:40

FONSECA 4-6 3-6 5-4 MENSIK

Mensik finds the first serve again and is ice-cool on the volley and on the overhead as he poses the serve-out question with a game to 15.

21:39

FONSECA 4-6 3-6 5-3 MENSIK

‘He’s clearly not moving as well. How much of it is physical, how much is it mental, how much is it fatigue from how much he has played?’ asks John McEnroe on TNT Sports comms.

Mensik lets rip on a backhand to make Joao work at Pulp, but the Brazilian can sense he’s in the ascendancy and the forehand does the damage to back up the break from there.

21:36

VIDEO: IS MENSIK STRUGGLING MORE THAN WE REALISE?

'I'd be trying to hide that' - Mensik limping as his range goes AWOL

Video credit: TNT Sports

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21:33

BREAK! – FONSECA 4-6 3-6 4-3 MENSIK

‘I’m not sure who looks the more physically worse out of the two. They both look like they are hurting,’ observes John McEnroe on TNT Sports comms, who points out that Mensik’s first serve has deserted him.

The Czech can’t quite make one of those delicate low volleys and then shanks another forehand off the island on his way to coughing up triple break point.

A velvety dropper saves one, but he still can’t find that first serve and he’s a touch slow moving towards Fonseca’s backhand rocket, which leads to a tired-looking riposte into the net.

21:30

FONSECA 4-6 3-6 3-3 MENSIK

Mensik has a glimmer of chance to apply some heat, but he attacks a second serve and balloons a forehand long.

Fonseca lands a clutch delivery and it’s all over in a flash as the South American ties the set at three apiece.

21:25

FONSECA 4-6 3-6 2-3 MENSIK

The level of Set 3 is nowhere near what preceded it as both players show signs of fatigue, which is perhaps not a surprise given the route they have had to take to reach this stage.

Mensik benefits from some rash returns to move 40-15 up and then seizes the scoreboard advantage with the hold to 30 courtesy of a slick volley to the open court.

21:21

BREAK! – FONSECA 4-6 3-6 2-2 MENSIK

Fonseca looks shell-shocked.

The Brazilian was in total control of the set with Mensik labouring, but he’s ever so loose opening his latest service game and two awful forehands tee up triple break point.

Jakub can’t find the island with a probing backhand and ends up missing out on all three as Joao deploys a bewitching dropper to make deuce.

The Czech keeps the heat on with a smash and does just enough to stay in the ensuing rally, which leads Fonseca to opt for another drop shot that barely makes the net.

21:16

FONSECA 4-6 3-6 2-1 MENSIK

‘All of a sudden he’s gone from looking invincible to opening the door and stretching out his hip,’ says John McEnroe on TNT Sports comms.

The American legend suggests it’ll be a real rush of adrenalin for Fonseca and ‘like an early Christmas present’ as Mensik struggles to find the first serve and drops the opening point.

The Czech gives himself a kickstart to pull away at 40-15 but then drags a backhand wide and flaps a forecourt forehand into the net.

The internal alarm bells must be blaring but he comes up clutch just in time with a pair of aces getting him back on the board.

'Majestic' from Mensik who seals two-set lead over Fonseca

Video credit: TNT Sports

21:11

FONSECA 4-6 3-6 2-0 MENSIK

There’s a spring in Fonseca’s step now and the crowd are responding as he stuns a delicate volley to take charge.

Mensik’s dip continues as he dictates on the return at 30-0 down but can’t find the island and Joao is able to easily consolidate to love.

21:08

BREAK! – FONSECA 4-6 3-6 1-0 MENSIK

Fonseca unleashes a whole load of frustration behind a forehand winner down the line and has his interest piqued when the Czech double faults.

The 26th seed does enough with the overhead to get to Pulp and is relieved when Joao fires a Hollywood backhand well wide.

It’s a real lull from Jakub, however, as he double faults for a second time and then hoists long after being outfoxed from his drop volley by the Brazilian’s smart lob.

Expectation mounts inside Chatrier and while Mensik responds with a clutch serve he then slices long to cough up a second BP.

‘Allezzzzz’ screams Fonseca and there’s already a different feel about this as Jakub double faults for a third time to drop serve.

20:57

SET! - FONSECA 4-6 3-6 MENSIK

Jakub slides low to his right to cut off another scorching pass with one of those jaw-dropping, deft, angled volleys.

It leaves Joao fuming at his team in frustration as he faces more pressure at 30-30.

The Czech fizzes long to offer up game point but then pushes his opponent back once more and rushes the net to force another error from the South American.

Mensik dictates from deuce but zaps a make-able forehand into the net and expects to wave goodbye to the game, but Fonseca contrives to slam a bounce smash wide.

The 26th seed licks the line down Joao’s left wing and then nails the opposite one to earn set point.

Fonseca wipes it out with a high-risk plus-one forehand but can’t quite wriggle free and a double fault offers up a second chance.

It’s a super exchange to settle it too, as Jakub wins the cat and mouse when his 19-year-old opponent jabs a volley wide.

'Like playing against a wall' - Mensik passes Fonseca for another winner

Video credit: TNT Sports

20:48

FONSECA 4-6 3-5 MENSIK

Mensik stoops low at the net to once again cut off a rocket pass with a sublime angled volley.

The Czech loops a defensive backhand long to give Joao hope and then double faults after landing a clutch serve to energise the crowd at 30-30.

The 26th seed stays in control with a plus-one forehand and nails another powerhouse delivery down the T to silence Fonseca's fans once more.

20:44

FONSECA 4-6 3-4 MENSIK

Mensik overthinks a backhand pass and arrows it wide before shanking a forehand off court to help Joao stay in touch with a simple love hold.

The Samba influence in the crowd remains subdued as they wait for their teenage star to find another gear.

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