The Australian Open is only four days old. However, one thing is certain! No one wants to see the 19-year-old Jakub Mensik on the other side of the net. If you ask why, Casper Ruud knows the best answer.
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A teenagerfaced the 6th seed in the second round at Margaret Court Arena and scored a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory in two hours and 44 minutes. Thus, the young Czech notched his first top-10 victory at Majors and reached the last 32.
Howe Jakub ousted Casper? By throwing everything at him! Mensik delivered the power Ruud could not control or resist. The younger player took charge and dictated the pace, overpowering his opponent and sealing the deal in style.
Ruud fought well in sets two and four but lacked weapons in his arsenal to make a turnaround. Jakub fired 22 aces and unleashed the power of his strokes. The Czech fired 62 winners and 35 unforced errors, producing incredible numbers and sealing the deal in style.
Mensik denied seven of eight break points.He generated 16 break points and seized five, controlling the scoreboard and sailing into the third round. Casper stayed in touch in the mid-range and most extended exchanges.
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However, Jakub took charge in the quickest ones up to four strokes.He hit numerous service winners and pulled the trigger before his opponent. The Czech bypassed deuces in his games in the opening set and kept the pressure on the other side.
Ruud denied four break points in the third game and avoided an early setback.However, Jakub grabbed a break in the fifth game with a smash winner and moved in front. A teenager held in the next one after deuces and created four break points in the next one.
Mensik seized the last after the rival's mistake for a 5-2 lead.The young gun cracked a backhand down the line winner for 6-2 in 46 minutes and a boost. The second set saw break points in five of nine games.
Jakub stayed focused in games two and four before missing a volley at 2-3 and falling behind.Casper saved two break points in the seventh game and held for a 5-2 advantage. The Norwegian fired a service winner at 5-3 for another fine hold.
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He wrappedup the set and locked the overall scoreboard at 1-1 after an hour and 33 minutes.Jakub left this part of the match behind and stormed over world no. 6 in set number three. Mensik grabbed a break in the second game with a forehand winner and delivered two fine holds for 4-1.
A teenager cracked a forehand down the line winner in the sixth game for another break.He saved two break points at 5-1 and held after a deuce, moving two sets to one in front after an hour and 59 minutes.
The Czech delivered five comfortable holds in the fourth set and kept the pressure on the other side. Casper held after a deuce in game five for 3-2. He could not repeat that at 3-3. Jakub clinched a break at 15 with a forehand winner and moved closer to the finish line.
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Mensik fired an ace in game eight for 5-3 and served for the win in game ten. A teenager hit a service winner at 15-30. He earned a match point after the rival's wayward forehand. Jakubsealed the deal with, you guessed, a forehand winner for a notable win.
The Czech will gain an extra boost following his career-best triumph on the most significant scene. Mensik will face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina or Felix Auger-Aliassime in the third round. What can we expect from a teenager? Another explosive package and valiant hitting.
If he performs like today, we should see Jakub in the last 16, or much further!
