18-year-old downs World No. 24 for biggest win by Pepperstone ATP Ranking

The rapid rise of Jakub Mensik continued Tuesday at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha. In just his eighth tour-level match, the 18-year-old notched his maiden victory against a Top 30 opponent by defeating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6(3), 6-4 at the hard-court ATP 250.

Mensik twice rallied from a break down en route to the opening set and then clinched a decisive break in the first game of the second before completing a 93-minute triumph. The Czech’s booming serve played a major role in his win, and he finished the match having won 70 per cent (26/37) of points behind his first delivery.

“I just tried to play my best,” said the World No. 116 Mensik, who is competing in the main draw in Doha thanks to a new benefit for #NextGenATP talents who reach the Top 250 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. “It’s a crazy opportunity to play a 250 here in Doha, so I’m super happy that I reached the second round and I will do my best to show this performance in the second round also.”

Mensik is the youngest player in the Top 200 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. He reached the third round at last year’s US Open, his first tour-level event, and defeated Denis Shapovalov as a qualifier on his Australian Open debut last month. Mensik has achieved all this while continuing his high school studies.

“I think I will do language courses [tonight] because I am going to graduate this year,” said Mensik, when asked how he would celebrate his victory. “Hopefully after summer I will focus 100 per cent on just tennis.”

After improving to 2-1 for the season, Mensik will next take on former World No. 1 Andy Murray or qualifier Alexandre Muller.

Christopher O’Connell also upset a seeded opponent early on Tuesday in Doha. The Australian overcame sixth seed Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 6-4 to increase his Lexus ATP Head2Head series lead against the German to 2-0.

O’Connell’s second-round opponent will be Emil Ruusuvuori after the Finn edged qualifier Giulio Zeppieri 7-6(2), 7-5.