US Open: Mensik stages dramatic comeback against Schoolkate

Czech Jakub Mensik, the world No 65, staged a dramatic comeback against Australian wildcard Tristan Schoolkate in the second round of the US Open to win 6-7 (4), 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (10-3) at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on Thursday.

Schoolkate rattled Mensik early in the match by denying him a hold in his first two service games of the opening set. The Czech then fought back and forced a tiebreaker but couldn’t take the lead.

The second set saw the Aussie convert three more break points to double his advantage. Mensik, with his back against the ropes in the third, leveled up to reduce the deficit on the back of two break point conversions.

Further, he saved two match points on his serve in the fourth set and drew level to force a decider.

The fifth set saw disciplined tennis from both players as they converted one break point each to take it into the 10-point tiebreak. Mensik prevailed in the tiebreaker with three mini breaks to close the match after four hours and 14 minutes.

The Czech will next face Portuguese Nuno Borges, who downed Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-4, 7-5, 7-5 in his second round effort. He defeated Argentina’s Federico Coria (6-2, 6-4, 6-1) in the first round.

Jakub Mensik won against Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, the No 19 seed, (6-2, 6-4, 6-2) in the first round of the US Open.

New York (Grand Slam), other second-round results (USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, hard, USD 75.000.000, most recent results first):

• Carlos Alcaraz vs. Botic van de Zandschulp
• Fabian Marozsan vs. Daniil Medvedev:
• Tommy Paul (14) beat Max Purcell: 7-5, 6-0, 1-0 ret.
• Daniel Evans beat Mariano Navone: 6-4, 6-3, 6-3
• Gabriel Diallo (Q) beat Arthur Fils (24): 7-5, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-4
• Alex De Minaur (10) beat Otto Virtanen (Q): 7-5, 6-1, 7-6 (3)
• Flavio Cobolli (31) beat Zizou Bergs: 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-3
• Jack Draper (25) beat Facundo Diaz Acosta: 6-4, 6-2, 6-2
• David Goffin beat Adrian Mannarino: 6-7 (8), 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (1)
• Nuno Borges beat Thanasi Kokkinakis: 6-4, 7-5, 7-5
• Jannik Sinner (1) beat Alex Michelsen: 6-4, 6-0, 6-2
• Jordan Thompson beat Hubert Hurkacz (7): 7-6 (2), 6-1, 7-5
• Matteo Arnaldi (30) beat Roman Safiullin: 6-2, 6-4, 6-4
• Tomas Machac beat Sebastian Korda (16): 6-4, 6-2, 6-4
• Christopher O’Connell beat Mattia Bellucci (Q): 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
• Novak Djokovic (2) beat Laslo Djere: 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 ret.
• Taylor Fritz (12) beat Matteo Berrettini: 6-3, 7-6 (1), 6-1
• Casper Ruud (8) beat Gael Monfils: 6-4, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (3)
• Lorenzo Musetti (18) beat Miomir Kecmanovic: 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5
• Ben Shelton (13) beat Roberto Bautista Agut: 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
• Alexei Popyrin (28) beat Pedro Martinez Portero: 6-2, 6-4, 6-0
• Juncheng Shang beat Roberto Carballes Baena: 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (2)
• Francisco Comesana beat Ugo Humbert (17): 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
• Andrey Rublev (6) beat Arthur Rinderknech: 4-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2
• Frances Tiafoe (20) beat Alexander Shevchenko: 6-4, 6-1, 1-0 ret.
• Alexander Zverev (4) beat Alexandre Muller (WC): 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-1
• Brandon Nakashima beat Arthur Cazaux: 6-4, 6-4, 6-2
• Tallon Griekspoor beat Sebastian Baez (21): 6-1, 2-0 ret.
• Grigor Dimitrov (9) beat Rinky Hijikata: 6-1, 6-1, 7-6 (4)
• Jiri Lehecka (32) beat Mitchell Krueger (Q): 6-7 (5), 0-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5
• Tomas Martin Etcheverry beat Francisco Cerundolo (29): 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3

You might also like this

US Open: Borges overcomes Tsitsipas-slayer Kokkinakis, through to third round

tennis majors

US Open: Evans sets up De Minaur meeting in third round

tennis majors

Popyrin’s improving return could be the key against Djokovic

tennis majors

Djokovic on his locker-room moment with Alcaraz: “Beautiful message for our sport”

tennis majors