Mensik stuns top seed Rublev to reach Qatar semis and break into world’s top 100

Jakub Mensik upset Russian Andrey Rublev, the top seed, 6-4, 7-6 (6) to move into the last four of the Qatar Open at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha on Thursday evening.

The 18-year-old Czech, ranked No 116, followed up his victory over Andy Murray the previous day, coming from a break down in the second set to secure the biggest win of his career, by ranking. According to the ATP, he’s the youngest player to beat a top-5 player since Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open.

Mensik is now certain to break into the world’s top 100 for the first time when the rankings are updated on Monday. He’ll play either third seed Ugo Humbert or wildcard Gael Monfils next.

“It’s just been an incredible week from the beginning I played very well and I knew I could play with the big players,” Mensik said on court.

“It’s an amazing feeling to reach the semi-finals after beating those good players. But the job is not done yet. Hopefully I can play like this again in the semis tomorrow and go on to make the final.”

Mensik beat Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, the No 5 seed (7-6 (3), 6-4) and edged out Andy Murray (7-6 (6), 6-7 (3), 7-6 (4)) ahead of his victory.

In the previous round of the Doha tournament, Rublev, ranked No 5, defeated French wildcard Richard Gasquet (6-3, 6-4).

Doha ATP 250, other last 8 results (Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, hard, USD 1.395.875, most recent results first):

• Ugo Humbert vs. Gael Monfils
• Karen Khachanov (2) beat Emil Ruusuvuori: 3-0 ret.
• Alexei Popyrin beat Alexander Bublik (4): 6-4, 6-4