Andrey Rublev went out to play the fourth round of the French Open against Jakub Mensik, but he left a particular moment on his entry to the court: bizarrely, the Russian forgot his racquets — which were being strung — delaying the start of the clash.
Rublev and Mensik stepped onto the court this afternoon at the Suzanne-Lenglen Court — shortly after Mirra Andreeva had completed her victory in the women’s draw. However, the match suffered a slight delay due to Rublev forgetting his racquets, which kept the action paused for a few minutes.
The former world No. 5 entered the court holding a child’s hand and carrying two bags in his arms, but he did not have his racquets with him — apparently because he had forgotten to bring them from the stringing area — and the Russian can be seen being forced to ask the umpire to have his racquets sent to the court.
Rublev spent a couple of minutes on court waiting for his racquets to be brought to him, while his coach Marat Safin looked on seriously from the stands, waiting for the scheduled duel to begin. Meanwhile, Mensik kept moving and warming up before the start of the clash, which had an unusual situation caused by Rublev’s oversight.
Rublev’s distraction carried over into the start of play, as the Russian dropped his first service game shortly after the match began. Mensik took the break and held his advantage with his serve, closing out a first set that was tight, but where the difference was made by the early break in favour of the Czech, who eventually pulled ahead 6-3 — while the match continues to develop on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, the second most important venue at Roland Garros.
Both players know they have a strong opportunity in the draw to go deep, and they already look like two of the names with the strongest credentials to dream of the title after the early exit of several favourites. Although neither has gone further than a Grand Slam quarter-final, both already hold Masters 1000 titles — something only Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud can also claim among those still alive at Roland Garros.
The winner of the Mensik vs Rublev duel will advance to the quarter-finals, where they will face the winner between Casper Ruud (15th seed) and João Fonseca (28th seed).
Andrey Rublev forgot to bring his racquet out onto the court 😅 pic.twitter.com/euGe0SNZlM
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) May 31, 2026
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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