Mensik beats Fonseca; Can he beat Zverev and reach French Open final? Mert & John discuss

**Mert** (0:00)
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**John Silk** (0:06)
So, Mensik here, second served, look at it. Forehand return into the forehand of Fonseca, now on the backhand of Mensik, which goes into the net. So, 4-3, people. 4-3, nip and tuck. Fonseca goes down 4-1 and is in big trouble after that ace down the T from Jakub Mensik. Now, Fonseca has held both of his serves to get us to 4-3. Now, can he do something on the turn? You feel as though Mensik, sorry, Fonseca needs at least one of these next two points. If he goes down 6-3, it's a long way back. But can he get one of these next two points? The first serve lands in. It's going to be an easy sort of put away volley for Mensik at the net there. We've seen some incredible net play from both him and Fonseca throughout today, but that was just a piece of cake for him. It was a good serve out wide, and it is something in his locker that Mensik has, and he's proved it today. 5-3, he leads. He's two points away from the win. Remember, he had six match points.
Is he going to be getting more after this serve?
So, the tee comes in for a serve volley. Puts that backhand away, though. Didn't need to volley it. 6-3. He's going to have three more match points. The first two are going to come on the Fonseca serve.
Now Dan is suggesting that he thinks Fonseca is going to go out. This is match point number seven. Is it going to be seventh heaven for Jakub Mensik? If he keeps going with this, we're going to have no more expressions for numbers. Okay, Fonseca serves, gets the first serve in. It's a good backhand return from Mensik. Now it's on Mensik's backhand. Mensik, backhand, backhand, drop shot from Mensik. Fonseca, Fonseca, Fonseca gets there with a re-drop. Mensik, no, he's going to win it! Wow! That's all, folks. As Victor says, Jakub Mensik take a bow with the way he responded to that re-drop. Unbelievable. Nice, warm embrace from the pair at the net. It is Jakub Mensik who's going to be facing Alexander Zverev in Friday's semifinal. And good news, he's going to have two whole days to chill. I don't think we'll be seeing him on a practice court tomorrow.
And that is good news for both of these players, actually, in terms of whoever is going to win. But it is Jakub Mensik who wins in straight sets. 6-4, 6-3, 7-6. It was pushing three hours in the end. We're probably looking at about 2 hours and 45 minutes. He needed 7 match points to get the job done. But get the job done, he did. And listen, if that goes 4 or 5, I'm thinking not only is Fonseca winning it, but neither player is going to be in any condition to challenge that on Friday. As it is, I think we might be in for a competitive semifinal, because Mensik is now going to have almost 72 hours to recover. It will be almost certainly the first semifinal. They tend to have the Tuesday match, the Tuesday quarterfinal pairing, if you like, then be the first to come up on the Friday roster, if you like. So almost certainly Mensik versus Zverev will be the first semifinal, and the second semifinal will be for Tino Arnaldi against Kabali or Felix Oje Aliassim, as I see Alex Koretcha come on court to interview Jacob Mensik. Joao Fonseca waves to the crowd and the Brazilian fans that have cheered him on so far and so near.
He'll be back next year. And I think he has...
His reputation is certainly burgeoning and almost, almost certainly, maybe that's too strong, but probably wins the French Open one day. He's going to have a good 10 or 15 shots at it.
Koretcha's on the court, ready to interview Jacob Mensik, who's into his first Grand Slam semi-final. Another huge forward for Jacob in his development. And I am joined now by Mert Otunga. Mert, how are you?
Looks like he's just getting ready actually, so I might just give him another minute or so. I'll keep talking. Are you ready Mert? If you are, just give me a thumb. Hey, he's just putting his earphones in. Can you hear me all right? Yeah. Are you going to give me a thumb up to bring you forward?
I think I've got the thumbs up. Can you hear me all right Mert?

**Mert** (4:55)
Yeah, I hear you fine.

**John Silk** (4:56)
Great. What about that match?

**Mert** (4:59)
That's incredible, huh?

**John Silk** (5:01)