Cool customer Jakub Mensik stays in his zone to halt Joao Fonseca at Roland Garros

For all the talk of two 19-year-olds being in the quarterfinals of the men’s event at Roland Garros, it’s 20-year-old Jakub Mensik who ultimately stands two matches away from hoisting a maiden Grand Slam trophy.

The Czech produced a stellar performance Tuesday evening under the lights of a closed roof on Court Philippe Chatrier to end Joao Fonseca’s bid, becoming the first man born in 2004 or later to reach the semifinals of a major.

Up two sets, Mensik saved a set point en route to getting back on serve in the third after twice finding himself down a break. Fonseca then admirably staved off six match points to force a tiebreak—with one getting away from the Czech on an errant overhead miss—before Mensik shut the door on his seventh opportunity in sealing a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory.

“The last 20, 30 minutes of the match, it was just really insane the level from both of us and actually a lot of, I would say, key moments at the time,” Mensik assessed in his press conference.

“Even after those match points when I didn't manage to take them, I'm happy that I stayed mentally focused and calm and managed to level up my game in the tiebreak.”

At the time even if the crowd erupts, I couldn't hear anything. Basically I was that much in the zone and so focused that actually I was just focusing on every other point. Jakub Mensik on blocking out the noise late in the third set

Reflected the 19-year-old Brazilian in defeat, “I did my best today. I think I put all I had on court, but yeah, unfortunately it was Jakub's day. He played good tennis. I wish him good luck.

“The way he deals with the important points is also really impressive. I think he controlled most of the part of the match, serving pretty well and doing the entrance with the return pretty well.”

Before arriving to Paris, Mensik had been navigating an uneven clay swing. A toe infection forced him to withdraw at his first event in Monte Carlo. After posting a pair of wins in Madrid, Mensik lost his Rome opener to Alexei Popyrin and split his two matches in Hamburg.

His French Open nearly ended in the second round, when the No. 26 seed survived Mariano Navone 7-6 (13-11) in the fifth. Mensik, who also needed seven match points to get across the line in that encounter, collapsed due to the hot conditions and was taken off in a wheelchair.

Crediting a clean bill of health, Mensik refueled the tank to eliminate Alex de Minaur in four and Andrey Rublev in five prior to his decisive win over Fonseca.

“I was basically super happy that I could come to Roland Garros, finally good prepared without any injury, playing pain-free. As the tournament is going, I'm playing better and better,” he commented.

A familiar foe awaits Friday, with 2024 finalist Alexander Zverev halting 19-year-old Rafael Jodar in straight sets. Mensik was edged by the German in a decider at Madrid, the pair’s inaugural meeting on tour.

“Right now, it's some different situation. Of course, semifinals,” he noted. “I would say bigger match, best-of-five. I'm excited for the challenge.”