Djokovic-mentored Mensik overcomes crowd hostility for French Open win
PARIS : Jakub Mensik said he tried to compose himself like his mentor Novak Djokovic would to handle the partisan French Open crowd after the talented Czech teenager downed local hope Alexandre Muller in a tense clash on Tuesday.
Mensik sealed a 7-5 6-7(5) 7-5 6-3 victory on a raucous and sometimes hostile Court 14 to book his place in the second round and said he benefited from the experience.
He turned up the heat on a cold day at Roland Garros after winning the third set, celebrating exuberantly before pretending to conduct the crowd as jeers rained down on him, similar to how Djokovic has done in the past.
"It's such a great experience. Everyone was telling me that at Roland Garros, the atmosphere, the French people are special. I experienced that. I'm glad for that experience," 19-year-old Mensik told reporters.
"Like Novak says, when sometimes the crowd is against him ... I was repeating in my head when they were cheering or shouting his (Muller's) name, I was trying to focus that they are shouting my name.
"The atmosphere here is something special. Of course, sometimes it was really difficult. In those pressure situations, I played my best tennis, which was the key. Maybe they pushed me forward. That's why I played that good in the fourth set."
Djokovic, who took Mensik under his wing a few years ago, can expect a similar reception when he faces Corentin Moutet or Clement Tabur in the next round after the three-times champion beat Mackenzie McDonald 6-3 6-3 6-3 in his opener.
"It's logical to expect that," Djokovic said. "Let's take all four slams. Anywhere you go, and you play the local player coming from that country where the slam is played, that they're going to have the crowd on their side. Nothing strange about it.
"But it's true that here in France and in Paris, compared to other slams, people are louder and more passionate and just give more support, louder support, more energy to their player, which for some players can be annoying.
"It's not the ideal environment you want to be playing in, but you have to be ready for it. I've played in a lot of hostile environments in my career and it's not something I haven't experienced before."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Independent Singapore
37 minutes ago
- Independent Singapore
LTA plans to give equal prize money to men and women athletes at the Queen's Club by 2029
INTERNATIONAL: The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has stated that it is committed to achieving equal prize money for men and women athletes at the Queen's Club and Eastbourne by 2029. This year, the women's event at Queen's Club will have a total prize money of US$1.415 million (about £1.043 million or S$1.80 million). This amount includes the voluntary increase by the LTA, which raised the standard prize money by approximately 33%. This is to show support for greater pay equality. However, despite the boost, the total women's prize pool is still significantly lower than the prize men athletes will receive for competing at the Queen's as well. This highlights the gap between the two events. With this, the LTA declared that they are determined to close the gap over the next few years. LTA chief executive Scott Lloyd expressed: ' The LTA is committed to growing women's tennis, both at professional and grass-roots level, and this move is an important part of that commitment.' See also Speedway SEA Championship returns for OCBC Cycle 2024 He added: 'This year, fans will be able to enjoy both men's and women's tennis on the biggest stages that we can offer… We want to develop the tournaments so that the women's events deliver a path to profitability and greater visibility for the sport.' More about the events The prize money minimums are set by the ATP and WTA tours. At the Queen's Club, the men's ATP event allotted €2.522 million (£2.122 million), and for the women's WTA tournament, which will return for the first time since 1973, will have a smaller prize fund. Both events are known to be '500' level tournaments. It means that it is just below the Grand Slams and the Masters 1000. The men's tournament is sold out, while over 80% of women's tickets are sold at lower prices. Moreover, the LTA is facing a challenge because money spent on prize funds can't be used to support grassroots tennis programs in the UK. Their summer events lost £4 million last year. With all of this, the LTA has pledged to achieve equal prize money at Queen's and Eastbourne by 2029, four years ahead of the WTA's 2033 deadline for standalone women's events. Furthermore, Eastbourne is a combined '250' event with prize money of US$389,000 (£286,650) for women and €756,875 (£637,000) for men, the highest payout for that category on the WTA Tour this year. In a social media post, LTA shared: 'A significant uplift in women's prize money for 2025 🙌… The women's prize money at the HSBC Championships and Lexus Eastbourne Open reaches record levels this summer… The LTA is committed to achieving true equal prize money for men and women at these events as soon as possible and no later than 2029.' WTA commented on the post and said: 'A win for women, a win for the sport, a win for future generations. This matters 💚' Some netizens also expressed their thoughts regarding this subject matter and said: 'We also want transparent draws of opponents' brackets' and 'Just not good enough.'
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Alcaraz returns to French Open final after ailing Musetti retires
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 6, 2025 Italy's Lorenzo Musetti shakes hands with Spain's Carlos Alcaraz as he walks off the court after retiring from the semi final match REUTERS/Lisi Niesner PARIS - Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz reached back-to-back French Open finals after Italian eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti retired with injury while trailing 4-6 7-6(3) 6-0 2-0 on Friday. Alcaraz, who is attempting to become only the third man to retain his Roland Garros title this century after Rafa Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten, will face either world number one Jannik Sinner or 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final. "It's never great to go through like this," Alcaraz said, before hailing Musetti's achievement of reaching at least the semi-finals of all four elite claycourt events this year. "He's a great player, he has had an incredible claycourt season ... I wish him a speedy recovery and I'm sure we'll be enjoying his tennis pretty soon." Musetti twice denied Alcaraz the chance to break in the opening nine games before the 23-year-old suddenly dialled up the intensity and snatched the opening set when his Spanish opponent produced errors in a poor service game. A frustrated Alcaraz kicked his bench during the second set but finally found a way through Musetti's dogged defence to draw level after a tiebreak and then produced a dazzling display of power and precision to dish out a bagel in the third set. Musetti, who appeared to be hampered by a left thigh issue midway through the third set, threw in the towel after two games in the fourth. "The first two sets were tough. I had chances to be up in the match but couldn't make the most of them," Alcaraz added. "When I won the second set, I was relieved and I knew that I needed to be aggressive and be myself. I was calmer. I could see clearer and I could play great tennis at the start of the third. "I'm feeling great physically. It's been three intense weeks but I have one more step to take. I'm playing great tennis and I have great confidence. I've been doing great things in this tournament and now is the time to give 100% in the final." Alcaraz said he would tune into the second semi-final on Court Philippe Chatrier to study his potential opponents. "I'm not going to miss tonight's match, it's one of the best we can have right now, Sinner against Djokovic," he said. "I'm going to watch it and enjoy it and take tactics from the match." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Carlos Alcaraz through to French Open final after Lorenzo Musetti retirement
PARIS – Carlos Alcaraz took his Roland Garros title defence all the way as he booked his spot in the final, but insisted it was 'never great' to see eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti retire injured in the fourth set of their semi-final on June 6. The Spaniard led 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-0, 2-0 after 2hr 25min of play under the roof on Court Philippe Chatrier when Musetti quit with a thigh issue. 'It is never great getting through winning the match like this,' said Alcaraz. 'Lorenzo is a great player. He has done an incredible clay season. He's one of the few players who has achieved semi-finals. I wish him all the best and a quick recovery. 'The first two sets were really tough. I had chances to break his serve in the match and I couldn't make the most of it. He was playing great tennis. When I won the second set there was relief. In the third set, I knew what I had to do in the beginning – pushing him to the limit and trying to be aggressive. 'I was more calm and I could see this more clear and I could play great tennis.' Alcaraz, who is attempting to become only the third man to retain his Roland Garros title this century after Rafael Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten, will face either world No. 1 Jannik Sinner or 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the title showdown on June 8. Musetti twice denied Alcaraz the chance to break in the opening nine games before the 23-year-old Italian suddenly dialled up the intensity and snatched the opening set when his Spanish opponent produced errors in a poor service game. A frustrated Alcaraz kicked his bench during the second set but finally found a way through Musetti's dogged defence to draw level after a tiebreak, and then produced a dazzling display of power and precision to dish out a bagel in the third set. Musetti, who appeared to be hampered by a left thigh issue midway through the third set, threw in the towel after two games in the fourth. Alcaraz was asked if he would be watching the Sinner versus Djokovic clash – the result of which was unavailable at press time – and he said: 'For sure. I'm not going to miss it! This match is one of the best match-ups we have in tennis right now. 'It is going to be great tennis. I'm going to watch it, and I'm going to enjoy it. I'm going to take tactics from the match. They're going to play great tennis. 'Right now, I'm feeling great and feeling good. It has been three intense weeks. I feel that I'm playing great tennis. I'm just going to give everything on Sunday. I've been doing great things in this tournament.' Before the match, Alcaraz paused in a moment of quiet reverence to take a picture of the permanent footprint tribute to his childhood idol and compatriot Nadal. The Spaniard, widely seen as Nadal's natural successor, pulled out his phone to capture the imprint honouring the 14-time Roland Garros champion and lingered in what appeared a moment of communion between tennis generations. Installed on Day 1 of this year's tournament as organisers paid tribute to the recently retired 'King of Clay', Nadal's footprint has rapidly transformed into something of a shrine at the spiritual home of clay-court tennis. Italian Jasmine Paolini touched it before one of her matches last week, while Alcaraz's coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero – himself a former Roland Garros champion – also posed for a photograph in front of the footprint. AFP, REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
