Rising Czech tennis talent Jakub Mensik delivered a stunning quarterfinal upset at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open on Thursday, defeating world No. 2 Jannik Sinner of Italy 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-3 in Doha.
The sixth-seeded Mensik fired 11 aces throughout the match and controlled the decisive third set with exceptional serving. He won an impressive 14 of his 16 first-serve points in the final set and finished with a 49-of-60 success rate on first serves (81.7%). Mensik also showed tremendous resilience under pressure, successfully defending five of seven break point opportunities.
The defeat marks a significant setback for Sinner, who recently reached the Australian Open semifinals but has now failed to make consecutive finals for the first time since summer 2024.
Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz of Spain now enjoys a more favorable path to the ATP 500 title, though the Spaniard faced his own challenge in the quarterfinals. Alcaraz mounted a comeback victory over seventh-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov, winning 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-3. Despite committing 34 unforced errors, Alcaraz overwhelmed his opponent with 41 winners compared to Khachanov’s 14.
The semifinals will feature Alcaraz against fifth-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev, who defeated Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6 (2). Mensik will face French player Arthur Fils, who scored his own upset by defeating Czech eighth seed Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-3.
Delray Beach Open
Fourth-seeded Learner Tien showcased his serving power with 20 aces among 51 total winners to outlast Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic 6-4, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5) in Delray Beach, Florida.
Kecmanovic displayed remarkable fighting spirit, saving four match points during the encounter. He saved one in the 12th game to push the set to a tiebreaker, then rescued three more after falling behind 6-2 in the breaker, but ultimately couldn’t escape a fifth match point. Tien’s quarterfinal matchup will be against eighth-seeded Frances Tiafoe, who also required three sets to overcome qualifier Zachary Svajda 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, successfully defending five of six break points.
Thursday evening’s remaining matches in Florida feature fifth-seeded Tommy Paul taking on Australia’s Adam Walton, while top seed Taylor Fritz faces Spain’s Rafael Jodar.
Rio Open
Portuguese lucky loser Jaime Faria continued his impressive tournament run by defeating Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina 7-6 (1), 6-4 to secure a quarterfinal berth in Rio de Janeiro.
Faria struck 26 winners while overcoming 29 unforced errors to advance. Joining him in the quarterfinals is eighth-seeded Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who posted an identical 7-6 (1), 6-4 victory over Lithuanian qualifier Vilius Gaubas.
Rio’s evening schedule includes third-seeded Brazilian Joao Fonseca facing Peru’s Ignacio Buse, while Italian Matteo Berrettini meets Serbian lucky loser Dusan Lajovic.
