Jakub Mensik delivered one of the standout victories of the 2026 ATP season, stunning world No. 2 Jannik Sinner 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 6-3 in the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open.
The 20-year-old Czech sixth seed showed composure beyond his years to halt Sinner’s relentless consistency and book his place in the last four in Doha for the second time in his young career.
A Match of Fine Margins
The opening set was defined by razor-thin margins. Sinner, who has made a habit of dominating tight contests over the past two seasons, applied early pressure but could not convert his break chances. Mensik, fearless and aggressive, trusted his serve and forehand to keep the Italian at bay.
When the set moved into a tie-break, Mensik elevated. He struck with authority, claimed an early mini-break, and sealed the breaker 7-3 with a clinical down-the-line backhand- a statement finish against one of the sport’s premier defenders.
Sinner’s response in the second set was emphatic. The Italian tightened his groundstrokes, improved his return depth, and capitalised on a dip in Mensik’s first-serve percentage. From 2-2, Sinner surged through four consecutive games to level the match, reminding everyone why he has been one of the most dominant players on tour.
Decisive Third Set
But the deciding set belonged to Jakub Mensik.
Breaking in the opening game, the Czech immediately flipped the pressure back onto Sinner. Behind a booming first serve-he finished with 11 aces- and bold baseline hitting, Mensik refused to retreat. He saved five of seven break points across the match and maintained his advantage with mature point construction.
At 5-3, he stepped forward on return, forced the error, and closed out the biggest win of his career by ranking.
“Before the match I knew about Jannik’s quality. A great guy, a great champion,” the 20-year-old said following his biggest victory yet.
“Already what he has done in his young career, it’s pretty impressive,” he added.
“But even with that thought, I came to the match to win it, and actually having a winning mindset.”
A Rare Early Exit for Jannik Sinner
For Sinner, the defeat marks a rare setback. Since the start of 2024, the Italian has compiled one of the highest winning percentages in the sport and has been a near-permanent fixture in finals. His only recent defeats had typically come in championship matches- often against Carlos Alcaraz- or in the latter stages of majors.
“Every player has their ups and downs. I’ve had two incredible years and now I’m going through a small dip, but it’s not something that worries me,” the Italian said after his exit from the event in Doha.
“We try to improve in every tournament I participate in: I’d like to go as far as possible, but it’s normal to go through tough moments; I’ve had even tougher ones in the past. I know how to bounce back,” Sinner added.
Semi-Final Set
Mensik will next face France’s Arthur Fils, who defeated fellow Czech Jiri Lehecka in straight sets. The clash promises explosive shot-making, with both young stars looking to cement their status among the sport’s next elite wave.
In the other semi-final, world No. 1 Alcaraz will meet defending champion Andrey Rublev, setting up a compelling contrast of styles and a potential blockbuster final.
