Jakub Mensik embraces pressure as he makes his mark on the ATP Tour: "Now I know what to expect from different events"

Jakub Mensik continues his strong start to the season after defeating Alexander Bublik in the first round of the ABN AMRO Open, acknowledging that he is beginning to feel the pressure of making a name for himself on the ATP Tour. The 19-year-old Czech was outside the Top 150 a year ago but has already established himself among the world's top 50 players.

In his impressive 2024 campaign, he reached his first ATP final at the Qatar Open, although he fell to Karen Khachanov. Nevertheless, by the end of the season, Mensik was named Newcomer of the Year after displaying remarkable consistency against experienced opponents.

Mensik reflects on his breakout season and a painful Australian Open loss

Mensik is not afraid of big-name rivals. He holds a positive 5-3 record against top-10 players, including victories over Andrey Rublev and Grigor Dimitrov in 2024. At the Australian Open, he pulled off one of the tournament’s biggest upsets by defeating World No. 6 Casper Ruud in the second round.

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“Last year, I played with no pressure,” Mensik told ATPTour.com in Rotterdam. “Do I feel more expectations now? Yes. But it doesn’t impact me. I feel really good on the court and I’m exactly where I want to be on the Tour. I’m improving, gaining confidence, and enjoying competing against the best players in the world at the biggest events.”

“I learned a lot in my first year. I gained valuable experience playing new tournaments and traveling. That first year is crucial because now I know what to expect from different events. This year, I can choose where I want to play, what feels right. I am ready for more.”

Mensik acknowledged that he is part of a new generation of players rapidly making a name for themselves on the Tour. Many of his rivals from the Next Gen ATP Finals are now causing waves on the ATP Tour, including Joao Fonseca, Learner Tien, and Nishesh Basavareddy, as well as others who were already making their mark at the top level, such as Arthur Fils and Alex Michelsen.

“I’m glad I got to know these guys better because we didn’t have many chances to see each other at tournaments. Some were playing ATP Challengers, others were already on the ATP Tour,” he recalled from last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals. “I knew them from juniors, but I hadn’t seen many of them for a few years. It was great to reconnect, compete against each other, and spend time as friends.”

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Mensik recently suffered a painful defeat at the Australian Open, where he led Alejandro Davidovich Fokina by two sets and even had match points, only to see the Spaniard complete one of the tournament’s most dramatic comebacks.

“Losing a close match at a big event is always tough because you prepare so much for those moments. When you lose a tight match, it hurts,” Mensik admitted. “But I believe that when I lose, I improve the most. I try to take the best lessons from defeats, even when they are hard. These losses can push me forward.”

“I’m lucky to have good people around me who help me through these moments. I was down after my loss in Australia for a few days, but you have to bounce back because the Tour moves on. The next week, you have another opportunity. It’s all about continuous improvement—mentally, physically, and in my game.”

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