Menšík knocks out João Fonseca to reach French Open semifinal

Jakub Menšík beat João Fonseca 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(3) on Tuesday night to reach his first Grand Slam semifinal at Roland-Garros in Paris. The 20‑year‑old Czech closed out the match after Fonseca, 19, pushed the third set to a tiebreak and saved six match points before Menšík converted on his seventh opportunity. The win ended Fonseca’s breakthrough run and set up a last‑four meeting with second seed Alexander Zverev. ### How did Menšík win the match in Paris? Jakub Menšík used his serve and court positioning to dictate play, finishing the match with 11 aces, the Roland‑Garros report said. Menšík took the first two sets by breaking Fonseca early and holding comfortably, forcing the contest into a tense third set where both players raised their level. (rolandgarros.com) ### What happened in the third set and the closing points? João Fonseca saved six match points in the third set before the tiebreak, according to match reports, but Menšík finally closed at the seventh attempt, winning the breaker 7-3. The ATP Tour write‑up noted the match lasted two hours and 44 minutes and described the finish as “a tense thriller” on Court Philippe‑Chatrier. (rolandgarros.com) ### How did Alexander Zverev reach the other semi‑final? Alexander Zverev reached the last four earlier on Tuesday by defeating Spain’s Rafael Jódar in straight sets to advance, the ATP and tournament reports said. Zverev’s victory preserved his run toward a first Grand Slam title and booked him the semi against Menšík. ### Where and when will the Menšík–Zverev semi be played? (atptour.com) Roland‑Garros organisers listed the men’s semifinals for Friday, June 5, with the Menšík–Zverev match scheduled in the evening session on one of the showcourts, the tournament schedule shows. Ticketing and session plans on the official order of play page list Friday evening as the slot for the men’s last‑four matches. (atptour.com) ### What milestones did Menšík’s win create? Jakub Menšík became the first man born in 2004 or later to reach a Grand Slam semifinal, the ATP wrote, and the result marks his deepest run at a major in his career to date. Tournament coverage also noted Fonseca’s Paris run was the best Grand Slam showing of his young career. (rolandgarros.com) Menšík’s next scheduled match is the men’s semifinal against Alexander Zverev on Friday, June 5, in Roland‑Garros’ evening session; the tournament’s remaining schedule lists the women’s semifinals on Thursday, June 4, and the men’s final on Sunday, June 7. (rolandgarros.com) (atptour.com)