Breaking through: Get to know Jakub Mensik, one of the rising stars of men’s tennis in 2025
An in-depth look at some of the hottest young players on the ATP Tour. No 4: Jakub Mensik
Jakub Mensik (Ng Han Guan/AP/SIPA)
Jakub Mensik burst onto the scene at last year’s Qatar Open, reaching the final as an 18-year-old.
Over the last six months, tennis fans have been given a glimpse of what the men’s game might look like in another 10 to 15 years, as a crop of future stars have surfaced to pique the imagination of fans everywhere. Yes, we know Jannik Sinner is just 23, and Carlos Alcaraz is still 21, but what about the fresh-faced youngsters who are already starting to surface as potential rivals to them?
Over the next few weeks, Tennis Majors will be shining a light on the new wave of young talent that started to show sings of a rise to prominence at this year’s Australian Open.
See them all here
Today we will look at Mensik, a 19-year-old Czech who reached the third round at this year’s Australian Open.
Who is jakub mensik?
Jakub Mensik won’t turn 20 until this year’s U.S. Open but already he has proven himself to be a force on the ATP tour.
The former world No 2 Junior hit the ATP’s top 100 in February of last year after powering into the Doha final, where he became the youngest Czech finalist and the first player to compete in an ATP final that was born in 2005 or later.
In October of last year, Mensik made his top-50 debut after a month that saw him advance to his first masters 1000 quarter-final in Shanghai, where he was defeated by Novak Djokovic, and his first ATP 500 quarter-final in Vienna.
What Defines Mensik’s Game?
Mensik’s serve is a weapon, and it drew praise from his friend and some-time practice partner Novak Djokovic after the pair played in the quarter-finals at the Shanghai Masters last year.
“I haven’t trained with him for a year and a half, so I could see today why he is one of the best servers we have in the game,” Djokovic said of Mensik, who hit 17 aces in that match. “He is only 19, the future is very bright for him. He knows that I am always there for him, whatever he needs.”
His serve isn’t just good, it’s also improving. Mensik is holding serve at an 88 percent clip so far in 2025 (as of February 20). That’s up from his career average of 85 percent. Excellent numbers for a teenager.
Power is the main theme in the Czech’s game, and aggression. He hits big from both wings and can take his backhand up the line to close out points and keep opponents off balance.
At 6ft 4in he’s still growing into his body, but all the tools are there for him to continue making his way up the rankings.
What are Mensik’s best achievements to date?
In his maiden Grand Slam appearance at the 2023 US Open, Mensik became the youngest player to reach the third round in 33 years. He had never won – or even played – an ATP level match prior to that tournament. He turned 18 during that year’s US Open.
Several months later, at Doha in 2024, Mensik earned his first career top 5 win over Andrey Rublev and later become the youngest finalist in tournament history. He made his top 100 debut not long after that performance.
Later in 2024, Mensik won eight out of nine matches and cracked two milestones in the fall. He reached his maiden Masters quarter-final (defeated by Djokovic) and his maiden ATP 500 final (defeated by De Minaur).
What are others saying about Mensik?
Novak Djokovic has high praise for Mensik’s game.
“I mean, he’s the youngster that is coming up,” declared Djokovic of Mensik last year prior to their Shanghai clash.
“I followed him since, he has played finals of Australian Open, I think it was in juniors three years ago or so. So, I’m very thrilled for him that he’s doing so well.
“I always believed that he’s got potential to be one of the top players of the world, and he’s building that kind of momentum right now. He’s tall, he’s got the big serve, he has got the all-around game, and he defends and moves very well for somebody of his height.”
When asked to name players that he felt could someday get to No 1, Casper Ruud mentioned Mensik, along with Frenchman Arthur Fils.
How far can he go?
Mensik has all the tools to be a dominating force on hard courts, and perhaps grass. If he continues to evolve and improves his fitness and consistency, he has top 10 potential. He currently ranks at No 45 in the world, and will not turn 20 until the 2025 US Open. Time is on his side.
watch him at indian wells
Mensik will next be in action at the prestigious Indian Wells tournament, where he faces Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the first round.
