AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 15, 2025

Jakub Mensik

Press Conference

J. MENSIK/C. Ruud

6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Jakub, it's your first top-10 win at a Grand Slam singles match. How do you feel about the victory tonight?

JAKUB MENSIK: Yeah, obviously, I mean, I'm feeling great. I knew before the match it's going to be tough one. Obviously it's never easy to play against these top players. Even more on the Grand Slam, best-of-five sets.

I'm feeling really great because I'll be showing the performance all night. So I'm glad that I stayed focused and keep that level for whole match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You're one among many players of your generation to beat top players, Joao and Alex. What makes this generation so strong?

JAKUB MENSIK: It's tough to say. I mean, all the young players which are playing here, even which are not here, they trying the best to reach the same level. For example, like Jannik and Carlos, they were few years ago, two years ago still teenagers.

Obviously, you know, our not opportunity, but we can approach the same and go by their steps and try to reach the same level, compete against them. At least I have it like that. I can really be able to try to reach the same level, to keep improving.

It's great that there is a new blood always. We can see that tennis is moving on. We can see different or new names on the tournaments. For the fans, for the tennis, for everything, it's really great. That's it. New blood is coming (smiling).

Q. How much does the fact that you played the Next Gen Finals help you to perform so well in Melbourne?

JAKUB MENSIK: Yeah, I mean, the timing of the Next Gen Finals, it was before the Christmas. Everyone was still in the pre-season. We were already playing, had couple matches before the season started.

I mean, that help us a lot, I guess. Yeah, I mean, because all of us play really great matches. Also on the preparation tournaments, we were doing really well. That's the most important thing in the beginning of the season to have the match count and to come on the Grand Slam with you already played couple matches before.

Q. When you do have a number of the Next Gen players all making these break-outs together, does that make all of you believe that it is possible to have these big upsets because you're doing it as a group?

JAKUB MENSIK: I mean, tennis is individual sport. So you're playing by yourself. Yeah, I mean, obviously when you can see all the young players, even for me Czech players that we are playing, they are improving, we are pushing each other forward. We are not, like, rivals, but they are pushing me forward.

I mean, it's important to have in this stage in the career. I guess not just in this stage but whole career, to have those kind of people, tennis players, that they are pushing you forward.

In this case, for me it's obviously Tomas and Jiri, which are all the time in front of me. They are improving every tournament, every year. I can try to go by their steps. Obviously the Next Gen, like Joao, Alex, and all of the others.

Q. A question about physicality. You have a very big game. Do you think you're ready at such a young age to match the older players?

JAKUB MENSIK: I mean, it's tough to say. Again, it's really individual. I mean, it's not my first time that I was playing best-of-five sets. I mean, in the beginning obviously it was something different for me.

I mean, for example, Casper is not that old still. Tough to say. Tough to say. Of course, when you're older, it is very tough to keep on the same level with the young guys. For example, like me. I feel physically great. It's most important thing for me, to just look at myself.