Jakub Mensik is through to his first Masters 1000 semi-final in Miami. The young Czech ousted Arthur Fils 7-6, 6-1 in an hour and 15 minutes, becoming the first player from his country in the Miami Open semi-final since Tomas Berdych in 2015.
Mensik claimed 14 points more than his rival, losing the advantage in the opener before prevailing in a tie break. The Czech took charge in the second set and sailed over the top. A teenager dominated with his first serve and kept the second safe.
He saved two of three break points and converted 42% of the return points into four breaks from seven opportunities.
Masterful Mensik 🙌
The moment @mensik_jakub_ defeated Fils 7-6 6-1 to become the fifth youngest semi-finalist in #MiamiOpen history. pic.twitter.com/84UYdmJudI
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 27, 2025
Jakub landed 26 winners and 23 unforced errors, while leaving his rival on a 19-19 ratio. The Czech forged a 27-10 advantage in service winners and stayed in touch with his rival from the baseline. A teenager held at love in the first game of the encounter.
He created two break points in the second game and welcomed the rival’s backhand error on the second for an early advantage. Fils saved a break point in the fourth game avoiding to fall two breaks behind. The Czech fired a booming serve in the fifth game and moved 4-1 in front.
Jakub Mensik, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Suddenly, Jakub played a loose service game at 4-2. He netted a forehand to experience a break and bring his rival back to the positive side. Arthur provided two fine holds and locked the result at 5-5 before stepping in on the return in game 11.
Mensik saved them with powerful serves and held with another for 6-5. The set went into a tie break after Fils’ hold at love in game 12. The Czech missed a backhand in the fourth point and fell 3-1 behind. The Frenchman played a loose forehand in the sixth point and lost the advantage.
Arthur Fils, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Jakub attacked in the seventh point and drew the rival’s mistake for another mini-break and a 4-3 advantage. He fired two unreturned serves for 6-3 and three set points. Fils denied two on his serve before Mensik seized the third at 6-5 after the rival’s wayward forehand.
Thus, the Czech claimed the opener 7-6 in 50 minutes and gathered a massive boost. Mensik kicked off the second set with a forehand return winner, securing an early break and closing the second game with a forehand winner.
Jakub Mensik, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Arthur barely moved in that last point and faced more issues in game three. The Frenchman netted a routine volley to experience another break and fall 3-0 behind. Jakub held at 15 in the fourth game with a service winner and landed another two games later for 5-1.
Mensik made another push on the return in game seven, firing a forehand crosscourt winner for another break and a place in the semi-final.
Tennis World USA