MENSIK OUTLASTS RUBLEV IN FRENCH OPEN THRILLER.

Jakub Mensik reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final after surviving a five-set
battle against Andrey Rublev at the French Open on Sunday.

The 20-year-old Czech edged the 11 th seed 6-3, 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 2-6, 6-3 in a gripping
contest that swung repeatedly over nearly four hours on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

Mensik looked in control after winning the first two sets, but Rublev roared back to
level before the Czech steadied himself in the decider.

A crucial break in the fifth set proved decisive, before Mensik sealed victory with a
composed ace on match point.

“It was super difficult,” Mensik said. “Even when I was 2-0 up, I felt like I was losing.
I’m just happy I finished it in the fifth.”

The win marks a career-best Grand Slam run for Mensik, who now moves into the
last eight in Paris.