Tennis-Ice-cool Mensik denies teenager Fonseca, reaches Paris semi-finals

It was really tough to stay focused until the end and I'm really happy that I managed to come back in the tiebreak ‌and move my game ‌a little bit forward."

Jakub Mensik battled past Brazilian breakout star ​Joao Fonseca with a 6-4 6-3 7-6(3) win to ​make the semi-finals of the French Open on ‌Tuesday ​and become the youngest Czech man to reach that stage at a Grand Slam. Days after collapsing on the red dirt of Paris following his second-round victory in sweltering conditions, the ‌20-year-old shone on a cool evening following a spell of rain to book a last-four clash with title favourite Alexander Zverev.

"I'm still in the match a little bit," Mensik said in his on-court interview after surpassing compatriot Ivan Lendl who made the 1981 Paris semi-finals ‌at the age of 21. "Joao is a great guy and a great competitor. Before the match, I knew it would ‌be a tough one. We started a bit nervous and at the end of the match, there were some incredible shots.

"I'm super happy I was the one who came back. I managed to stay focused and keep fighting until the end." After four straight holds of serve to kick off the contest under ⁠the Court ​Philippe Chatrier roof, the momentum swung ⁠when Mensik edged ahead with a break, and the Czech stayed firm from there to win the opening set.

The ice-cool Mensik tightened his grip on the ⁠contest when the second set unfolded in similar fashion, as the 19-year-old Fonseca's serve let him down at a crucial moment and he then ​struggled to find a way past the wall in front of him. The youngest Roland Garros men's quarter-final since a ⁠20-year-old Rafa Nadal defeated a teenage Novak Djokovic in 2006 looked in danger of becoming a rout as Mensik bagged the set when his opponent pushed a ⁠shot ​wide.

With his adoring Brazilian fans stunned and the frustration rising, Fonseca came out firing in the third set, but was broken when serving for it at 5-4. Mensik drew level before wasting six match points and eventually prevailing via a tiebreak. "The ⁠last game and tiebreak was one of my best performances so far," added Mensik, who was mentored during his junior days by ⁠Djokovic.

"A couple of matchpoints I ⁠didn't know if the ball was out or in ... It was really tough to stay focused until the end and I'm really happy that I managed to come back in the tiebreak ‌and move my game ‌a little bit forward."