He erased six match points, but Mensik ultimately prevailed
Sob o teto fechado do Philippe-Chatrier, com a chuva a ameaçar Paris, dois jovens talentos do ténis mundial mediram forças num quarto de final de Roland Garros que separava a promessa da consagração. O checo Jakub Mensik, de 20 anos, superou o brasileiro João Fonseca, de 19, por 6-4, 6-3 e 7-6, encerrando a candidatura do sul-americano à sua primeira meia-final de um Grand Slam. É o momento em que o desporto lembra que a juventude, por si só, não basta — e que a serenidade, tantas vezes, decide.
- Fonseca chegou aos quartos de final como uma revelação genuína, tendo eliminado Djokovic e Ruud, alimentando a esperança de uma estreia histórica nas meias-finais.
- Mensik impôs a sua solidez desde o início, quebrando o serviço do brasileiro nos momentos decisivos do primeiro e segundo sets para construir uma vantagem confortável.
- No terceiro set, Fonseca reagiu com determinação, chegando a liderar por 5-3 e colocando a partida em aberto, mas Mensik recuperou e forçou o tie-break.
- No momento mais tenso, Fonseca anulou seis match points consecutivos, mas acabou por sucumbir à compostura do checo, que fechou o encontro sem ceder um set.
- Mensik avança agora para defrontar Alexander Zverev, terceiro do mundo, numa meia-final que representa um desafio de escala muito superior ao que enfrentou até aqui.
O teto fechado do Philippe-Chatrier criou uma atmosfera particular para o duelo entre Jakub Mensik e João Fonseca, dois jovens que representam o futuro do ténis mundial. O checo de 20 anos acabou por ser mais consistente do que o brasileiro de 19, vencendo por 6-4, 6-3 e 7-6 e garantindo o seu lugar nas meias-finais de Roland Garros.
Fonseca tinha chegado a esta fase com um percurso notável, eliminando Novak Djokovic e Casper Ruud em rondas anteriores. Mas Mensik revelou-se demasiado sólido. No primeiro set, manteve-se firme até ao sexto jogo, onde conseguiu o break decisivo. No segundo, aproveitou uma oportunidade improvável — quebrando o serviço do adversário quando este estava a 40-0 — para fechar em 6-3.
O terceiro set trouxe uma reviravolta parcial. Fonseca entrou agressivo, quebrou logo no primeiro jogo e chegou a liderar por 5-3, fazendo sonhar com uma quarta partida. Mensik não cedeu: recuperou, igualou a 5-5 e levou o set ao tie-break. Ali, o brasileiro mostrou carácter ao anular seis match points, mas o checo manteve a calma e fechou o encontro.
Nas meias-finais, Mensik terá pela frente Alexander Zverev, o alemão terceiro do ranking mundial. Para Fonseca, fica a dor de uma primeira meia-final de Grand Slam adiada — mas também a certeza de que, aos 19 anos, o futuro reserva muitas outras oportunidades.
The roof was closed over Philippe-Chatrier on Tuesday afternoon, rain threatening Paris, as two teenagers prepared to settle a quarterfinal match that would determine who advanced to the semifinals of Roland Garros. Jakub Mensik, the 20-year-old Czech ranked 27th in the world, faced João Fonseca of Brazil, just 19 years old and ranked 30th. What unfolded was a straight-sets victory for Mensik—6-4, 6-3, 7-6—that ended Fonseca's bid to reach his first Grand Slam semifinal.
Fonseca had arrived at this stage as something of a revelation. The teenager had already dispatched Novak Djokovic and Casper Ruud in earlier rounds, performances that suggested he might be ready to break through at the sport's highest level. But Mensik proved too steady, too composed. In the opening set, the match remained tight until the sixth game, when Mensik secured the break of serve that allowed him to close it out at 6-4.
The second set followed a similar pattern. Mensik again found the opening he needed, breaking Fonseca's serve at a moment when the Brazilian had reached 40-0—a particularly painful moment, the kind of missed opportunity that can shift momentum. Mensik held the advantage and wrapped the set in 6-3, moving within one set of victory.
The third set, though, belonged to Fonseca for stretches. He came out aggressive, breaking Mensik's serve in the opening game and building a 2-0 lead. When he later extended that advantage to 5-3, it seemed possible he might force a fourth set. But Mensik steadied himself. He broke back, leveled the match at 5-5, and pushed the set into a tiebreak. There, Fonseca showed his youth and his fight—he erased six match points—but Mensik ultimately prevailed in the deciding moments, closing the match in three sets.
With the victory, Mensik secured his place in the tournament's final four. He will face Alexander Zverev, the German ranked third in the world, who had dispatched the young Spanish player Rafael Jodar in his own quarterfinal. The semifinals loom as a test of a different magnitude: Zverev is established, proven, a player who has won at the highest levels. For Mensik, the path forward is clear but steep. For Fonseca, the disappointment of a first Grand Slam semifinal denied will linger, though at 19, the opportunities ahead are many.
Citações Notáveis
Fonseca had impressively eliminated Djokovic and Ruud earlier but fell short of reaching his first Grand Slam semifinal despite strong third-set resistance— Tournament record
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
What made this match feel different from Fonseca's earlier wins over Djokovic and Ruud?
Mensik played a different kind of tennis—less reactive, more methodical. He didn't give Fonseca the rhythm those other players had, even when Fonseca was playing well.
That third set looked like Fonseca's moment. Why couldn't he finish it?
He had the chances. Five-three up, match in his hands. But Mensik is a professional, and Fonseca is still learning what it takes to close. Six match points is a lot to save, but Mensik did.
Does losing this way—so close—hurt more than a blowout would have?
Probably. He'll replay that tiebreak for weeks. But he also proved he belongs here. He beat Djokovic. That doesn't disappear.
What does Mensik face now with Zverev?
A completely different challenge. Zverev is top-three for a reason. This is where Mensik's steadiness gets tested against someone with more weapons.
Is there a sense that we're watching the changing of the guard in tennis?
Not yet. But matches like this one—young players pushing into the semifinals—they're the beginning of something. Fonseca will be back.