Mensik Edges Fonseca in Three Sets to Reach First French Open Semifinal

Jakub Mensik defeated Joao Fonseca 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (3) in the French Open quarterfinals on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Paris. The 20-year-old Czech advanced to the semifinals, where he will face No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev.

Mensik, who stands 6-foot-5, won 13 of 15 serve-and-volley points. Fonseca won his only serve-and-volley point. Mensik wasted six match points in the final game before Fonseca held serve, then took control of the deciding tiebreaker.

Less than a week earlier, Mensik collapsed with cramps after his second-round win over Mariano Navone and was taken off court in a wheelchair. Two days later he dropped the first set 6-0 to Alex de Minaur before recovering to win in four sets. He also needed five sets to defeat Andrey Rublev in the fourth round.

"After the cramps and super dehydrations, I needed to put as much fluids as I could inside of me," Mensik said. " Fonseca, 19, reached the quarterfinals by defeating Novak Djokovic in five sets in the third round and Casper Ruud in the fourth round. " Zverev advanced by defeating Rafael Jodar 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-3.

The 29-year-old German has reached three Grand Slam finals and at least the semifinals at every major except Wimbledon. Mensik has won two career titles, both on hard courts. He defeated Djokovic in straight sets in the Miami Open final last year and won in Auckland, New Zealand, earlier this year.

During his post-match interview, Mensik's mother, Katerina Mensikova, formed a heart shape with her fingers from the stands. "The last 20-30 minutes of the match it was just really insane," Mensik said. " ESPN reported the results.