SANTA PONCA/STARNBERG, June 25, 2024
Jakub Mensik made history at the Mallorca Championships presented by waterdrop on Tuesday by defeating defending champion Christopher Eubanks of the United States, becoming the youngest match winner in the ATP 250 tournament’s history.
The 18-year-old from the Czech Republic secured a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory in the opening round, marking his first win on grass courts. Mensik struck 12 aces and won 84 per cent of his first-service points to prevail after one hour and 30 minutes.
Mensik’s Moment! 👏@mensik_jakub_ defeats defending Mallorca champion Eubanks 6-3 3-6 6-1 @MallorcaChamps #MallorcaChampionships pic.twitter.com/8wQtecAHKc
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 25, 2024
“For me it’s a good result,” the World No. 85 said in his on-court interview. “Obviously after difficult weeks, suffering with the injury, I’m happy to compete again. Back on grass with a ‘W’, I’m happy and I will be pushing more for the next round.”
Mensik, runner-up at the 2022 Australian Open Junior singles event, will next play Italian veteran Fabio Fognini. He joins 19-year-old US-American Alex Michelsen, who has advanced to the quarterfinals, as the only teenage winners in the event’s main draw. Michelsen defeated Adrian Mannarino of France 7-6(5), 6-4 in one hour and 49 minutes. The California native will next take on Sebastian Ofner from Austria, who was a 6-3, 7-5 winner over Luciano Darderi of Italy. The encounter lasted 79 minutes.
Other second-round winners at the Mallorca Country Club in Santa Ponca, Calvia include Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut and Gael Monfils of France.
