Fresh off becoming the youngest Czechia player to reach a Masters semi-final on the ATP Tour, Jakub Mensik takes on first-time Miami Open semi-finalist Taylor Fritz in Friday's last-four contest, seeking a place in Sunday's title match.
Mensik, 19, overcame a weary Arthur Fils in straight sets to advance at the Frenchman's expense, while the American No. 1 regrouped after losing six match points in set two to eliminate Matteo Berrettini in Thursday's two-hour, 44-minute late match.
Match preview
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It took two decades, but Tomas Berdych's record as the youngest Czech player to make a Masters 1000 semi-final is no more, with Mensik (19 years and 199 days) surpassing the icon, who was 20 years and 44 days at the 2005 Paris Masters.
Although the well-rested teenager was expected to take down Fils in three, the 20-year-old Frenchman, bidding for a maiden semi-final appearance, ran out of gas after thrilling three-setters against Frances Tiafoe and Alexander Zverev in the previous rounds.
In contrast, Mensik was returning to the courts in Florida after a three-day break due to Tomas Machac's withdrawal because of illness, denying supporters a mouthwatering all-Czechia fourth-round contest.
Despite losing a 4-1 advantage in the opening set, Mensik refocused to claim the shootout and overpower a fatigued opponent in set two, securing a 7-6(5), 6-1 victory in 75 minutes.
Having lost to Novak Djokovic in his maiden Masters quarter-final in Shanghai last October, the talented 19-year-old has benefitted from Jack Draper's inability to shake off Indian Wells exertions in round two, Machac's ailment in the fourth and Fils losing steam in the quarters to set up Friday's match with America's No. 1 player.
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Fritz, a winner in Indian Wells three years ago, has previously struggled in Miami, where a quarter-final run two years ago marked his best performance leading into this year's tournament.
It has taken nine appearances to achieve a semi-final berth, accomplished by notching a fifth consecutive win over Berrettini, improving to 5-0 in their head-to-head in two hours and 44 minutes.
The eight-time ATP champion could have enjoyed a smoother evening had he converted one of the six match points engineered in set two; instead, Berrettini forced a decider, having been down 6-3 in the second-set shootout, but the world No. 4 regrouped to clinch the decisive break at 5-5 in the decider for a 7-5, 6-7(7), 7-5 win.
Facing another powerful server in Mensik, the 27-year-old will back himself to reach another title match at a hard-court event on home soil after an impressive run at Flushing Meadows, where he participated in his first Grand Slam final last year.
Nonetheless, the American will exercise caution, having suffered more losses than wins at Masters semi-finals, with four defeats in five previous last-four contests.
The fourth seed enters Friday's match on a three-match losing streak in such encounters, falling to Andrey Rublev in Monte-Carlo in 2023 and Madrid last year before losing to Djokovic in Shanghai last October.
Thus, the American will be motivated to snap this streak of disappointments on home soil to have a shot at claiming his second title against the sport's greatest player or Grigor Dimitrov.
Tournament so far
Jakub Mensik:
First round: vs. Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4 3-6 6-1
Second round: vs. Jack Draper 7-6[2] 7-6[3]
Third round: vs. Roman Safiullin 6-4 6-4
Round of 16: vs. Tomas Machac w/o
Quarter-final: vs. Arthur Fils 7-6[5] 6-1
Taylor Fritz:
First round: Bye
Second round: vs. Lorenzo Sonego 7-6[2] 6-3
Third round: vs. Denis Shapovalov 7-5 6-3
Round of 16: vs. Adam Walton 6-3 7-5
Quarter-final: vs. Matteo Berrettini 7-5 6-7[7] 7-5
Head To Head
US Open (2023) - Third round: Fritz 6-1 6-2 6-0
Fritz defeated Mensik in their only previous encounter on the ATP Tour, which took place on American soil at the 2023 US Open, dropping just three games against the then-qualifier.
Much has changed for the teenager since, with the big-serving 19-year-old expected to break into the top 50 after reaching his first Masters semi-final in Miami.
Having defeated a top-10 player by ousting Draper in the event's second round, Mensik aims for a second victory in Florida and his seventh overall against that elite group.
We say: Fritz to win in three sets
Although he had progressed smoothly before facing Berrettini, Friday's outcome will depend on Fritz's swift recovery following his two-hour, 44-minute battle with the Italian a day earlier.
Mensik has spent significantly less time on court in Miami, giving him a slight physical edge in the semi-final.
Nevertheless, the motivated American is expected to outlast the first-time Masters semi-finalist in three tight sets to secure his spot in Sunday's title match against Djokovic or Dimitrov.
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