Jakub Menšík reaches French Open semis

Jakub Menšík reached his first Grand Slam semifinal on Tuesday, June 2, with a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(3) win over João Fonseca at Roland Garros in Paris. The 20-year-old Czech closed out the quarterfinal on his seventh match point after letting six chances slip late in the third set. (rolandgarros.com) The match lasted 2 hours and 44 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Menšík will play Alexander Zverev in the semifinals on Friday, according to Roland Garros and the ATP Tour. (atptour.com) ### How did Menšík get through the tight finish against Fonseca? Menšík led by two sets and served for the match before Fonseca forced extra pressure late in the third. (atptour.com) Roland Garros said the Czech “dug deep” in the closing stages, and ATP Tour coverage said he recovered after failing to convert six match points on Fonseca’s serve at 5-6 before taking the tiebreak. The official Roland Garros match page listed the score as 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(3), with Menšík winning in straight sets despite the tense ending. ATP Tour coverage described the win as Menšík’s first major semifinal, a milestone reached in his first Grand Slam quarterfinal. (rolandgarros.com) ### What did Menšík say after the match? Menšík said the standard of the match was high from both players. “It was an insane level from both of us,” he said in comments carried by the ATP Tour after the match. The ATP Tour said Menšík had some discomfort in his left leg during the quarterfinal but finished the match and advanced. (atptour.com) Roland Garros also quoted him as saying, “I stayed focused, stayed in the match and kept fighting till the end.” ### Why was this quarterfinal getting so much attention? Fonseca, 19, arrived in the match after a run that included a comeback win over Novak Djokovic and a straight-sets victory over Casper Ruud to reach his first Grand Slam quarterfinal. (atptour.com) ATP Tour coverage framed the meeting with Menšík as a clash between two of the sport’s leading young prospects. (atptour.com) ATP Tour coverage said Menšík became the first man born in 2004 or later to reach the last four of a major tournament. Roland Garros described both players as entering “uncharted territory” when they walked onto Court Philippe-Chatrier on Tuesday night, each seeking a first Grand Slam semifinal. (atptour.com) ### Who is waiting for Menšík in the semifinals? Alexander Zverev advanced earlier Tuesday by beating Rafael Jódar 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-3. ATP Tour results and Roland Garros live coverage both said that victory set a semifinal against Menšík. (atptour.com) ATP Tour’s quarterfinal schedule page had listed Menšík-Fonseca as the night session match after Zverev-Jódar on Court Philippe-Chatrier, putting both halves of the semifinal pairing on the same day in Paris. ### What comes next in Paris? Friday is the scheduled date for the Menšík-Zverev semifinal at Roland Garros, according to the tournament’s live coverage and official schedule pages. (rolandgarros.com) The French Open men’s singles final is scheduled for Sunday, June 7, under the tournament calendar. (rolandgarros.com) (atptour.com 1) (atptour.com 2)