Mensik, Michelsen & Fonseca enjoy dream weeks on ATP Tour

Getty Images

#NextGenATP stars Jakub Mensik, Alex Michelsen and Joao Fonseca had weeks to remember on the ATP Tour in Doha, Los Cabos and Rio de Janeiro, respectively.

At the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, Mensik climbed to first in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Jeddah after advancing to his maiden tour-level final in Doha. The 18-year-old upset World No. 5 Andrey Rublev to become the youngest player to defeat a Top 5 opponent since Carlos Alcaraz overcame Stefanos Tsitsipas at the 2021 US Open.

Mensik also beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Andy Murray and Gael Monfils at the hard-court event. As part of the Next Gen ATP Brand expansion, players aged 20 and under who reach the Top 250 at any point in the season receive one main draw opportunity at an ATP 250 in a week when there are three or more ATP Tour events. Mensik took advantage of the Next Gen reserved spot in Doha, where he leaves as a Top 100 player after rising to a career-high No. 87 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Jeddah

In Mexico, 19-year-old Michelsen reached the quarter-finals at the Mifel Tennis Open by Telcel Oppo. The American captured his first Top 10 win when he beat World No. 9 Alex de Minaur in straight sets in the second round.

Michelsen, who competed at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah last season, is currently second in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Jeddah. Earlier this year he reached the third round at the Australian Open.

Brazilian Joao Fonseca made waves on home soil at the Rio Open presented by Claro, where he played fearless tennis to earn wins against Arthur Fils and Cristian Garin at the ATP 500.

The 17-year-old, who arrived in Rio at No. 665 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, became the first player born in 2006 to win a main-draw tour-level match. The 2023 US Open boys’ singles champion leaves Brazil at No. 343 and sixth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Jeddah after reaching the quarter-finals.