Jakub Menšík Stuns World No. 2 Sinner in Doha, Reaching Semifinals
In a stunning upset at the ATP 500 tournament in Doha, 20-year-old Czech tennis player Jakub Menšík defeated world No. 2 Jannik Sinner 7-6, 2-6, 6-3. The victory marks the biggest scalp of Menšík’s career and propels him into the semifinals, where he will face Arthur Fils, who defeated Jiří Lehečka.
A Match of Contrasts
Menšík started the match aggressively, holding his serve and initially taking the lead. He faced a challenge, falling behind 0-40 in an early game, but responded with strong serving and net play to regain control. The first set culminated in a tie-break, which Menšík won 7-3 with a powerful backhand.
Sinner bounced back in the second set, capitalizing on a dip in Menšík’s intensity and first serve percentage to win convincingly 6-2. However, Menšík regained his form in the deciding set, immediately breaking Sinner’s serve and maintaining the advantage to close out the match.
Menšík’s Rising Momentum
This victory builds on a strong start to the season for Menšík, who remains undefeated in ATP tournaments this year. He previously won a title in Auckland in January. He has now improved his record against Top 5 players to 4 wins and 2 losses, and against Top 10 players to 9 wins and 8 losses.
Menšík previously reached the final in Doha two years ago, losing to Karen Khachanov. This return to form suggests a promising trajectory for the young Czech player.
Semifinal Showdown: Menšík vs. Fils
Menšík’s semifinal opponent, Arthur Fils, overcame Jiří Lehečka in straight sets (6-3, 6-3). Lehečka had a strong start to the tournament, not dropping a set in the first two rounds, but struggled against Fils, committing 32 unforced errors.
The other semifinal will feature world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz against defending champion Andrey Rublev. Alcaraz defeated Karen Khachanov 6-7, 6-4, 6-3, even as Rublev overcame Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6.
Did you know?
Jakub Menšík is the first Czech player to defeat Jannik Sinner.
FAQ
Q: What is Jakub Menšík’s current ranking?
A: The provided sources do not state Menšík’s current ranking.
Q: Who did Jiří Lehečka lose to in Doha?
A: Jiří Lehečka lost to Arthur Fils.
Q: What are the other semifinal pairings in Doha?
A: Carlos Alcaraz vs. Andrey Rublev.
Q: What was the score of Menšík’s match against Sinner?
A: 7-6, 2-6, 6-3.
Explore more tennis news and analysis on Livesport Zprávy.
