With the era of the “Big Three”—Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic—coming to an end, tennis fans are looking for new stars to claim the throne. While Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are already the leading contenders, a young Czech player, Jakub Mensik, is quickly emerging as a name to watch.
At just 19 years, Mensik has made waves in the tennis world. Though he hasn’t won an ATP title yet, his performance this year earned him the 2024 Breakthrough of the Year award, an honour previously given to players like Alcaraz, Sinner, and Arthur Fils. Mensik finished the season ranked 48th in the ATP standings, a remarkable feat for his first full year on the professional circuit.
Mensik’s journey to stardom was fueled by hard work and consistency. He achieved notable milestones, including reaching the round of 32 at the US Open, quarterfinals at the ATP 250 in Mallorca, quarterfinals at the Shanghai Masters 1000 (where he took a set off Djokovic), and semifinals at the ATP 250 in Umag. However, his most memorable moment came in Doha, where he reached his first ATP final after defeating big names like Andy Murray, Andrey Rublev, and Gael Monfils. Although he fell short in the final against Karen Khachanov, the experience propelled him into the top 50 rankings.
Interestingly, Mensik’s success in Doha almost didn’t happen. He originally planned to play in Los Cabos but switched to the Qatar tournament after being offered a free iPhone as a participation gift. Laughing about it later, Mensik admitted that the unexpected reward changed his decision—and ultimately changed his career.
Standing at 1.91 meters, Mensik combines a strong serve with impressive speed and agility. His powerful two-handed backhand is considered one of his standout weapons, alongside a solid forehand and excellent movement on the court.
With a breakthrough year behind him, Mensik is being hailed as a future rival for Alcaraz and Sinner. As he continues to rise, fans eagerly await what’s next for this promising young talent who has already proven that even the smallest incentives can lead to big dreams.