#NextGenATP Mensik fires into last eight in Vienna

Jakub Mensik’s breakout year on the ATP Tour is showing no signs of slowing down as we approach the season finale.

The #NextGenATP star surged to a 6-3, 7-6(7) triumph against Miomir Kecmanovic on Thursday to book his spot in the last eight at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, his fifth tour-level quarter-final of the year. Mensik was clinical on serve throughout the match, during which he won 86 per cent (48/56) of points behind his first delivery and saved all four of the break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Qualifying ? QFs@mensik_jakub_ with another strong performance to continue his winning streak in Vienna! #ErsteBankOpen | @ErsteBankOpen pic.twitter.com/QgeBRvfLR3

With the one hour and 53-minute victory, the 19-year-old is up to third in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, trailing second-placed Alex Michelsen by just 25 points. After a stellar season that has seen him climb inside the Top 50 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, Mensik is in strong contention to make his debut at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in December.

Mensik’s ability to combine his athleticism with craft at the net has been pivotal to his ascent through the ranks. It was on full display against Kecmanovic, underpinned by a sumptuous half-volley pickup to move ahead in the second set tie-break.

At the ATP 500 in Vienna, Mensik battled through two qualifying matches before toppling eighth seed Alexei Popyrin in their opening-round clash. After seeing off Kecmanovic in straight sets, the Czech qualifier will next face World No. 10 Alex de Minaur or Italian Flavio Cobolli in the last eight.

Mensik is no stranger to defeating a Top 10 opponent (4-3 overall), having conquered both Andrey Rublev and Grigor Dimitrov en route to his quarter-final loss to Novak Djokovic at the Rolex Shanghai Masters last month.

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