Mensik, Shelton reach Mallorca QFs

Czech teen Jakub Mensik advanced to his second tour-level quarter-final Wednesday when he defeated Fabio Fognini at the Mallorca Championships presented by Waterdrop.

One day after becoming the youngest match winner in tournament history by ousting defending champion Christopher Eubanks, the 18-year-old Mensik earned a second consecutive three-set victory, downing Fognini 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

“Crazy match from the beginning,” said Mensik, World No. 85 in the PIF ATP Rankings. “The first 40 minutes, we played three games. I don’t know what happened, I didn’t experience this before. I’m really happy that I kept playing after the first set that I was 4-1 up and still lost. I’m really happy that I came back. Tough match. Fabio played really well. Difficult from the beginning.”

In blustery conditions, Mensik struck 11 aces and won 80 per cent of his first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats. He earned a decisive break at 5-5 in the decider and booked his quarter-final ticket after two hours, 40 minutes.

Mensik, who missed Roland Garros due to injury, strengthened his claim on second in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah. He is aiming for his maiden trip to the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, which runs from 18-22 December in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The teen's previous quarter-final appearance came in Doha, where he became the youngest finalist in tournament history.

Mensik will next face fourth seed Alejandro Tabilo, who earlier ousted Alexander Shevchenko 6-3, 6-2. It will be their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.

Fognini, 37, was playing his 800th tour-level match. The Italian holds a 420-380 career match record. 

Top seed Ben Shelton closed the day with a 6-4, 6-0 victory against Australian Rinky Hijikata, the American’s first grass win of the season and third overall on the surface.

The 21-year-old rushed Hijikata with his weight of shot and saved all six break points he faced. Shelton was aggressive on return, winning 67 per cent of his second-serve return points.

“It was a really fun match today. I’m happy to be back in Mallorca. I love playing here,” Shelton said. “I had a really tough first match here last year, losing 7-6 in the third [to eventual champion Christopher Eubanks], so I’m really happy to get my first win here. I’m really pleased with how I played today. I’m getting used to [grass] day by day.”

Shelton, who won the 2022 NCAA singles title while at the University of Florida, will next meet another former collegiate champion in British qualifier Paul Jubb.

Jubb, 2019 NCAA singles titlist, raced past Australian Adam Walton 6-0, 6-3 to reach his first tour-level quarter-final. The 24-year-old was 0-4 in ATP Tour matches entering this week and will next look for the biggest win of his career against the World No. 14.