"As for the referee today, what happened after the match I’ll keep to myself": Jakub Mensik fumes amid heat cramp collapse at Roland Garros
ATP
Jakub Mensik saw off Mariano Navone on Wednesday at the French Open but at what cost as the Czech ace collapsed with cramp on the court at the end.
A harrowing scene amid the heat which saw sweltering temperatures in Paris and Mensik playing in the sun for nearly five hours that took it's toll. To the point that he couldn't take in the electrolytes he needed anymore. "It was another hell of an experience. I think everyone probably saw the ending, especially the fifth set," said Mensik post match.
"Overall, I felt like I was doing pretty well during the first three sets. I think I was well prepared for the match, for the conditions and everything.
"But unfortunately, at the beginning of the fourth set, I started struggling to get electrolytes into my body and to drink properly. Basically, I stopped drinking at that point, and that caused the problems later on.
"The ending kind of says it all. But I’m happy that I kept fighting. I always believed, even when I was barely able to serve, that somehow I could still make it happen."
Mensik struggles through
He described the feeling of playing in the heat and how everything was a struggle from the cool down time, to not being able to rest for long enough to get through this heat.
"During the match, with the heat, it was insane. Playing in those conditions, directly in the sun, for more than four and a half hours — that’s just crazy," he added.
"Even during the breaks, you don’t really have enough time. The ball kids can’t bring towels during changeovers, and you only get one minute. By the time you sit down, it’s already about 30 seconds left, so there’s really not much time to cool yourself down.
"Even though I was struggling to take electrolytes, it was mainly because of the heat. Toward the end, I started cramping a little bit. But I walked off the court on my own. In the locker room, I went straight into an ice bath, and after that I even went to the gym to do recovery work.
"So actually, I’m feeling pretty well now. I just need to rebuild my strength, take in a lot of fluids and food, and I should be okay."
Jakub Mensik collapsed on court.
Mensik fumes at lack of rule
While there are rules in place on the tour, Roland Garros doesn't have an ardant policy which was a bone of conjecture for Mensik who fumed but also held his tongue at other points. "Of course. I mean, on the ATP Tour, things are a little different. You usually get a bit more flexibility or understanding.
"Here, everything is super strict, which I respect completely. But in this kind of heat and these conditions, it’s honestly insane. The rules are the rules. Sometimes spectators probably think, “Okay, give him five or ten more seconds,” especially in those moments when I lost my first serve because I didn’t have enough time.
"But again, I respect the rules. As for the referee today, what happened after the match I’ll keep to myself. But some of the behaviour, honestly, I didn’t really respect.
He described the feeling of the cramps and how it hit him at the end when he was heaped on the court. "The cramps only really started during the last few points. It wasn’t like I was struggling with cramps for the whole fifth set.
"Honestly, it really hit me on the last point. When I hit the final winner, all the emotions came out and my body just shut down. At that moment, I couldn’t really do anything. If the match had continued, it would have been very difficult to recover.
"But it’s also mental. You have to be ready to keep fighting and somehow find the last bit of energy you still have inside you. I think I managed to do that pretty well."
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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