QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN

February 22, 2024

Jakub Mensik

Press Conference

J. MENSIK/A. Rublev

6-4, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Welcome, everyone. Questions.

Q. Your impression after this big win?

JAKUB MENSIK: Great. (Laughter.)

No, no. Yeah, I mean, I knew before the match that it will be super difficult, because Andrey is now in a good form. In the beginning of this season he won Hong Kong. Then he reached quarters in Australian Open. So I know that the quality is on his side.

But, yeah, like I played yesterday and like I told you yesterday that, you know, I have that opportunity to play against these guys, and my confidence is high because of the wins past days.

So I know before the match that I have the quality to beat him. So I just try to stay focused every moment, because Andrey is very specific player. Big forehand, big serve. He push the tempo. It's very difficult to play against him, so for me it's now very special to win against this guy.

Q. You will be the youngest player in top 100 from Monday. What does this mean to you?

JAKUB MENSIK: Yeah, of course my goal before this season was to reach top 100 after the season. Now it's February, and already I am in the 100.

Yeah, that's also big achievement in my career, for sure. During the season I will do my best to reach higher spots.

Q. Congratulations. In the last week, you are a new player, so you were not exactly the fan favorite. Now I think you grow in popularity. How do you deal with the fans? Do they give you the energy to challenge them, or does it affect you negatively?

JAKUB MENSIK: No, no. I have to say of course when you are newcomer, everyone is cheering for the guy who is more famous. So, yeah, I mean, when it was in Australia, New York last year, every time when I played on this big stage against the crowd is was just super feeling for me. The energy is unbelievable. All these fans pushing my game to the higher level.

So I'm very happy that here I felt the fans are on my side today. So it's just incredible that in Qatar, in Doha, I have, like, Czech fans. So very special.

Yeah, like I told you, it's very good that they are on my side and they are pushing my game forward.

Q. You have been pretty good in the tiebreaks under pressure the past couple of matches. Is that a situation that you like to have, back on the wall to feel this energy, or what's your relationship with pressure?

JAKUB MENSIK: Yeah, I work for five years with my mental coach, Dragan Vujovic, and we did great work past years. So in these situations, I have my techniques that helps me to stay focused, stay calm.

In those pressure situation, in the tiebreaks, for example, it's not guaranteed that you will win 100% of the tiebreaks, but it helps me a lot. I can see that sometimes, you know, opponent is doing some mistakes in the tiebreak and I try to stay calm, try to stay focused.

All these techniques from Dragan are just really great for me and for the future, of course.

Q. You're obviously still only 18, and you are literally a junior player. Are you playing with no pressure, or do you feel, because of your talent and your ability, do you feel pressure to prove yourself in the men's game?

JAKUB MENSIK: Of course is the same with the fans. When you are newcomer, everyone is, that when I'm playing on the court, you know, no one is expecting from me the big wins, you know, so of course when I'm playing right now, you know, I don't have the pressure like that I will be, I don't know, top-10 player playing against also 18 years old.

So yeah, for now, the pressure is real, but I think in the future when I will be top 50, top 20, playing these tournaments, I think it will stay the same for me.

Q. Why is Novak your idol?

JAKUB MENSIK: He's the best player in the history, so when I started to play tennis, you know, I saw on the television Top 4, Big 4, you know, Andy, Roger, Rafa, Novak, and Novak was, you know, one of my favorites. So because of him I started to play tennis. That's why he's my idol.

Q. Are you still in contact with him sometimes?

JAKUB MENSIK: Of course, of course. Yeah, you know, last year or two years ago, I had the opportunity to play against him in Montenegro and Belgrade, so after that, we stayed in contact. You know, we are reaching each other in the tournaments in Australia and New York last year, Davis Cup, what else. We talked to each other, you know, what's new, and we're like friends.

So I think that for the future, it's also very good thing to have the relationship good with him.

Q. About the tiebreak, you got late by one mini break against Rublev, but you were phenomenal coming back. What was going through your mind at that point?

JAKUB MENSIK: Yeah, of course I knew before that when the tiebreak will come, it's very important to stay focused on my serve, you know. When Andrey breaks me twice in the tiebreak, you know, I just tried to find opportunity on the return.

Yeah, after I was 3-5 down, I hit good return when he played the second serve, so all this pressure situation or how to say that important balls, I just played really well, so that was I think the key in the tiebreak and then the deciding rallies.