World no. 49 Jakub Mensik will competein the last eight in Auckland. The 19-year-old faced Ben Shelton in the second round and prevailed 7-6, 4-6, 7-5 in two hours and 38 minutes. Thus, a teenager will compete in his seventh ATP quarter-final and the second of the season.
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Mensik claimed ten points more than Shelton. The Czech dominated behind the first serve but struggled on the second. The younger player played against six break points, defending five and keeping the pressure on the top seed.
Shelton landed only seven aces and dropped 36% of the points behind the initial shot. The American did a marvelous job in fending off 11 of 12 break points. Still, a left-hander lost the ground in the closing stages of the duel, failing to reach the deciding tie break.
They sprayed over 100 unforced errors after struggling from both wings. Two great servers fired 81 service winners, with Mensik opening a 47-34 lead and sealing the deal in that segment. Little separated them from the baseline and at the net.
Jakub made the difference with that final push on the return in the closing stages of the duel, earning a notable win and remaining on the title course. They saved four break points in the middle of the opening set. The servers raised their level in the upcming ones.
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Ben fired a booming serve in the 11th game for 6-5 and generated a set point on the return in the next one. Jakub saved it with an ace and held to introduce a tie break. The Czech built an early lead and welcomed the rival's backhand error for 4-0.
Shelton sprayed a forehand error at 2-6, allowing his opponent to wrap up the opener in style after 56 minutes. The American passed the Czech at the net in the third game of the second set for his only break of the match.
Mensik landed a forehand down the line winner in the sixth game and generated three break points. A left-hander saved them and held, cementing the lead and moving 4-2 up. Ben served for the set at 5-4 and missed a set point.
Jakub earned a break chance, eager to extend the set. A left-hander denied it with a powerful serve and landed a lob winner to wrap up the set and force a decider after an hour and 40 minutes. They served well early in the third set, reaching 4-4.
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Mensik faced the exit door after playing against two break points in the ninth game. The Czech saved them and held with a service winner for 5-4 and a boost. Shelton served to stay in the match in game ten and faced three match points.
The American erased them with powerful serves and held for 5-5 and more drama. Jakub left those chances behind and made another push on the return at 6-5, drawing the rival's mistake for two more match pojnts. Shelton denied them and extended the battle.
However, a left-hander faced the third match point and returned Ben's booming serve. The top seed sprayed a forehand error, ending his campaign in the quarter-final and propelling Mensik over the top.
