The world No.27 Jakub Mensik suffered from cramping during his Roland-Garros press conference after a notable triumph over João Fonseca in the French Open quarter-finals.
The match was won by the Czech in straight sets 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(3) and he advanced to his first Grand Slam semi-final. For the first time, the former Miami Open champion reached the final four of a major and appears with serious chances of fighting for his first title in this category.
The 20-year-old player has delivered a remarkable physical effort over the last two weeks in Paris. In the second round, he survived a 4-hour and 41-minute battle that was decided in a fifth-set tie-break, where he only managed to close out the win on his seventh match point.
He then also played a nearly four-hour battle against Andrey Rublev in five sets, in which the Czech once again came back from behind in the score to take the victory. Against Fonseca, Mensik dominated with his efficiency on serve and by being more decisive in key moments. The Brazilian fought, but ultimately could not overcome it. The cold mentality Mensik showed in the important moments stood out.
Mensik shows cramping signs after Roland Garros quarter-final win
The physical effort of Mensik became evident after his latest Roland-Garros match, when he defeated Fonseca in straight sets. It was a duel between two youngsters who knew they were playing for a chance to make history – in an open draw after the early exits of Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, and with the absence of Carlos Alcaraz, opening space for many new names to fight for the title.
Mensik and Fonseca were among those who stood out during the first week, and they carried their runs into a quarter-final clash between two young players who are emerging as names that could dominate the future of the Tour. Fonseca, 19 years old, against Mensik, 20 years old – a combined age of under 40 years, showing that new names can start to become contenders in Grand Slam tournaments after a couple of years of uninterrupted dominance from Sinner and Alcaraz.
Against Fonseca – just like a few days earlier against Navone – Mensik struggled to close out the victory. He was unable to convert up to six match points on return at 5-6 in the third set and ended up extending the match into a tie-break.
“I would say [it was] tough and so much was expected from both of us, from the audience and from everyone,” the 2025 Miami Open champion said in press conference. “I'm super happy with the performance overall. I mean, 20, 30 minutes of the match, it was just a really insane level from both of us and at key moments.”
At one point in the press conference, the Czech visibly showed the notable physical effort he had made when he suffered cramping while answering questions from the press. The moment was captured by Roland Garros cameras and later circulated on social media, as a clear demonstration of the 20-year-old’s physical commitment.
In the semi-finals, Mensik will face world No. 3 Alexander Zverev, who is considered by many to be the main favourite for the title at this stage. However, the Czech already knows how to produce surprises as the underdog, and this time, in his first Grand Slam semi-final, he will try to overcome Zverev’s experience. The German is playing his fifth Roland Garros semi-final and the 11th Grand Slam semi-final of his career.
Jakub Mensik began cramping in his post-match press conference 😫 pic.twitter.com/JdgnNZfywC
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) June 3, 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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