Jakub Menšík upsets João Fonseca to reach French Open semifinals

Jakub Menšík reached his first Grand Slam semifinal on Tuesday after beating João Fonseca 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(3) in the French Open quarterfinals in Paris. Roland Garros and the ATP Tour both listed the match as a straight-sets win that lasted 2 hours 44 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Reuters reported Menšík became the youngest Czech man to reach a Grand Slam semifinal, while the ATP said he was the first man born in 2004 or later to make the last four at a major. ### How did Menšík close it out against Fonseca? Menšík won the first two sets 6-4 and 6-3 before surviving a tighter third set that went to a tiebreak. The official Roland Garros match page shows he finished the job 7-6(3) after 2:44, and the ATP said he converted his seventh match point. The ATP quoted Menšík afterward saying, “It was an insane level from both of us.” The same ATP report said he failed to convert six match points on Fonseca’s serve at 5-6 in the third set before winning the tiebreak. (rolandgarros.com) ### Why was this quarterfinal getting so much attention? Fonseca, 19, had arrived in the quarterfinals after beating Casper Ruud to make his first Grand Slam last eight. (rolandgarros.com) Roland Garros said that win came in front of Brazilian former champion Gustavo Kuerten and set up the meeting with 20-year-old Menšík. Roland Garros preview coverage had framed both players as young contenders already handling favorite status. (atptour.com) The ATP described Tuesday’s match as a clash between “two of tennis’ most exciting prospects,” with Menšík absorbing and redirecting Fonseca’s power. ### What did Fonseca say after the loss? Fonseca said his Paris run was still “a positive week,” according to the ATP’s post-match report. (rolandgarros.com) He said he had come into the tournament after “a little injury” and without major expectations, then reached the quarterfinals anyway. Roland Garros also posted Fonseca’s quarterfinal press conference on Wednesday, identifying it as a session focused on his defeat to Menšík. (rolandgarros.com) The tournament site said the Brazilian had reached the last eight at age 19 before his run ended on Tuesday night. ### What does the result put on Menšík’s record? Reuters said the win made Menšík the youngest Czech man to reach that stage at a Grand Slam. (atptour.com) Tennis Majors said he was the youngest Czech man to make a major semifinal since Ivan Lendl in 1980. The ATP player page lists Menšík as 20 years old and ranked No. 27 in the year-to-date ranking snapshot shown on Wednesday. (rolandgarros.com) The Roland Garros and ATP match reports both described the semifinal as his first at a major. ### Who is next, and when? Alexander Zverev is next for Menšík in the semifinals. Roland Garros live coverage on Tuesday said Fonseca and Menšík were playing to decide who would face the German in Friday’s semifinal, and the ATP’s results page said Zverev and Menšík had set that matchup. (sportstar.thehindu.com) Friday is the next scheduled step in Paris for Menšík, with a place in the French Open final at stake against Zverev. (atptour.com) Roland Garros listed Menšík’s quarterfinal as completed on June 2, and its live coverage tied the result directly to the Friday semifinal lineup. (rolandgarros.com 1) (rolandgarros.com 2)