Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha:
Unseeded 18-year-old Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic caused a major upset in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open by defeating top-seeded Andrey Rublev with a score of 6-4, 7-6 (6). Mensik’s impressive performance, marked by 10 aces, secured his spot in the tournament’s semifinals. Notably, this victory marked Mensik’s first Top 5 win in his career, making him the youngest player to achieve this feat since Carlos Alcarez in 2021.
Mensik’s next challenge will be against France’s Gael Monfils, who, at 37 years old, became the oldest semifinalist in tournament history with a 6-2, 6-4 win over compatriot and third-seeded Ugo Humbert. Meanwhile, Australian Alexei Popyrin secured a 6-4, 6-4 victory over fourth-seeded Alexander Bublik and will face Russian Karen Khachanov in the semifinals.
Rio Open:
In Rio de Janeiro, second-seeded Cameron Norrie of Great Britain dominated Tomas Barrios Vera of Chile with a 6-1, 6-1 victory, advancing to the quarterfinals. Norrie’s strong performance included converting six of 10 break-point opportunities and showcasing a commanding lead in first serve points.
Other notable results in the Rio Open included Sebastian Baez’s 7-6 (1), 6-3 win over Facundo Diaz Acosta and Dusan Lajovic’s upset victory against sixth-seeded Laslo Djere with a score of 6-2, 7-5. Brazilian wild-card entrants Joao Fonseca and Thiago Monteiro, along with Thiago Seyboth Wild and Mariano Navone of Argentina, also secured wins.
Mifel Tennis Open in Los Cabos, Mexico:
In Los Cabos, Australia’s Jordan Thompson faced a tough challenge but rallied from a first-set bagel to beat the United States’ Alex Michelsen with a score of 0-6, 7-6 (1), 7-5 in the quarterfinals. Thompson’s resilience included more aces and winners, converting all three of his break-point opportunities.
Norwegian Casper Ruud, the fourth seed, displayed a strong performance, defeating Nuno Borges of Portugal with a score of 6-3, 6-2. Later in the quarterfinals, second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas faced Aleksandar Kovacevic of the United States, and top seed Alexander Zverev took on Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis.
