US OPEN

August 30, 2023

Jakub Mensik

Press Conference

J. MENSIK/T. Droguet

3-6, 6-2, 7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Four sets, a little under three hours. Could you give an assessment of how you thought you played stowed.

JAKUB MENSIK: I mean, it was really tough match. I know Titouan really well. He played really good. Also the conditions today were not so good. I mean, it was very windy. Also for me, after few months, also the night match with the lights. The conditions were really tough today.

But I believed every point, every set that I can beat him. After that, yeah, I mean, how I said, it was really tough match.

I played not very well, but just I was a little bit better than the opponent today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How is your right arm?

JAKUB MENSIK: Yeah, the arm is feeling very good. I mean, I just wanted to make sure it was nothing serious. Before the match I taped it.

Yeah, I played 100% my serve, so all good for me. Now I will see what will happen tomorrow, will get it tighter or not, but I think it will be good.

Q. What does it mean for you to reach the third round at 17?

JAKUB MENSIK: Yeah, that sounds really good. Before the tournament I tried or I talked to my coach and said, Hey, it's my first Grand Slam, just come here and enjoy that feeling of my first Grand Slam with all these stuff we're doing, we're doing great job. After good season, this is like my revenge, you know, my present after the good season.

I'm just super happy with the performance here in US Open. Hopefully I will show it in next rounds.

Q. Who do you think your game is comparable to of players from this generation or past generations?

JAKUB MENSIK: I'm 17. I'm very tall. I have little bit like advantage of other guys. So with my big serve and also with aggressive position on the court, I feel very comfortable.

Also other guys with my age, tough to say, someone is playing like more from the baseline, someone is playing more like aggressively also like me. So I think we are on a good way.

With this game, I can be on top, for sure.

Q. You're going to be playing on your 18th birthday. Is this the best birthday present you can give yourself?

JAKUB MENSIK: I think so. After the match I talked to my coach. Yeah, the first thing I tell him is that we are so happy, I'm so happy, that I will be playing on my birthday also. I hope with Taylor because I want to play someone like top 10. Also he's American. Hopefully it will be some bigger court.

I think for 18 birthday, playing third round of the US Open in 18 years, I think not too bad, yeah.

Q. What's the best message have you received other than from your coach?

JAKUB MENSIK: No, I didn't have time to read all these messages. Yeah, all the fans and family and also my friends are also so happy for me. Yeah, I'm excited. I'm excited that I will read it after some time.

Q. You're very focused for a young guy. Do you work for it?

JAKUB MENSIK: Yeah, I'm cooperating with the mental trainer for four years. His name is Dragan Vujovic from Serbia. Yeah, when I was younger I was very hyped on the court, showing more negative energy.

We started to be better on that on the court, not just on the court but also off the court. So it helps me a lot. Now I can say that my mental stability is very good on this type of the matches and the tournament.

So that's also very important for my game. It can be always better, but for now it's like in past matches that was the deciding thing. Yeah, it was just the deciding thing I think with my mental strength, with all those guys that I'm playing for the first time, beating guy who is top 60, you know, where there is some pressure points in the tiebreak or 5-All and 30-All. This is so important, yeah.