ATP Tour

Mensik snaps Baez’s perfect start to 2026, clinches Auckland crown

Jakub Mensik slammed the door shut on a Sebastian Baez fightback in dramatic fashion on Saturday to lift the title at the ASB Classic in Auckland.

The 20-year-old Czech saved three consecutive set points from 3/6 in the second-set tie-break before claiming a 6-3, 7-6(7) championship-match triumph at the hard-court ATP 250. Coming up against an opponent who had won his first seven matches of the 2026 season, Mensik produced a high-class serving performance to become the youngest Auckland champion since Juan Martin del Potro in 2009.

“I would say it’s been a great start to the year,” said Mensik in his on-court interview. “I’m super happy that after my preparation and preseason, when obviously you are not in the rhythm and you are coming for the new season with a lot of energy, I showed the performance that I wanted. I’m super happy for the win.”

The future is now 🌟@mensik_jakub_ defeats Baez 6-3, 7-6(7) to win his second ATP Tour title and etch his name into Auckland history.@ASB_Classic | #ASBClassic26 pic.twitter.com/nhhBxAhsPx

— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 17, 2026

Third seed Mensik made a rapid start to his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Baez. The Czech fired 11 aces in the opening set, during which he also won 95 per cent (21/22) of points behind his first delivery, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Having clinched the only break of serve of the first set in the sixth game, Mensik was on the brink of victory after he broke again for 6-5 in the second set. Yet Baez, who upset top seed Ben Shelton in the quarter-finals, immediately broke back to force a tie-break and soon held three set points at 6/3. Mensik kept his cool, however, producing a stunning drop volley, an ace and a return winner to fend off the danger, before going on to complete an 82-minute victory.

“Seb is a great fighter. It’s super difficult to hit a winner against him,” reflected Mensik. “When I was 6-5 up in the second set, I had been serving very well the whole match and then I went through a couple of second serves. He used the chance, and then in the tie-break, when it was 3/6… I’m happy that I managed to stay focused and keep the spirit until the end.”

Mensik, who defeated Novak Djokovic to lift his only previous tour-level trophy at the 2025 Miami Open presented by Itau, will on Monday rise one spot to No. 17 in the PIF ATP Rankings as a result of his Auckland title run. The Czech will now head to Melbourne to prepare for his first-round Australian Open encounter against Pablo Carreno Busta.