Carreño: "The feeling of 'almost' was exactly the one I didn't want to stay with"

Carlos Navarro | 20 Nov 2025 | 13.10

Pablo Carreño laments defeat against Mensik. Source: Getty

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Pablo Carreño was in charge of kicking off the tough tie between Spain and Czech Republic. The gijonés was well aware of the major challenge ahead of him: facing Jakub Mensik on an indoor hard court, an ideal scenario where his serve would be crucial and his returns would tip the scales in his favor.

The gijonés managed to go a break up, but the Czech immediately returned the favor. Perhaps there, halfway through the first set, the momentum started to shift towards a Jakub Mensik who hit 20 aces to further crush Pablo Carreño's hopes. The tie is still alive, Spain remains very much in the mix in a Davis Cup 2025 series that could turn into a long one... but Pablo expressed his frustration in the press conference: he was aware of the Czech's danger, that he wasn't the favorite, but he leaves the court with the feeling he wanted to avoid at all costs.

Carreño analyzes his loss to Mensik and laments the difference in the serve/return battle, also showing confidence in Munar

- The feeling of being close to an unstoppable Mensik on serve

"Well, I didn't play badly. I felt good this week, I think I caused him a lot of trouble from the baseline, I was very aggressive, brave, I played well... but I'm not entirely satisfied, of course. I would have liked to make things more difficult for him. In the first set, I started very well, boldly, knowing what I had to do. I pressed him a bit, managed to break him, which wasn't easy, but those details are what I'm not happy about: I should do whatever it takes there, but I must win that game and keep the momentum going.

I think I missed several first serves in that game, from there I was playing catch-up, he goes 0-30... I didn't just give it to him, he earned it, but I have to try to make it a bit tougher for him. It's clear that against his serve, it's very hard to return because he gets many free points on this surface, and no matter how good you are from the baseline, when the ball is flying, the serve matters a lot. My serve didn't help me much today, he's a player with very long limbs as well, capable of playing very well from the back, and that pressures you, keeps pressuring you... and yes, that's what happened."

- There are still chances to progress in this series

"We knew it would be tough. Mensik is the best second player in the tournament, he's top-20: they have a very balanced team, their top two or three players are all very good, but Jaume is playing well, I see him keeping his serve comfortably, and the key will be there, for him to hold his service games. Lehecka has been playing well, he has had good matches, beating Fritz and Tiafoe in the United States. He has experience, it won't be easy... but we'll cheer for Jaume and trust in him, and if he succeeds, we'll also rely on the doubles."

- Mensik also exerted immense pressure on the return: does the fact that he was so strong, on this surface, in serve and return... leave him feeling that he can hardly reproach himself, or does he not see it that way?

"That's the feeling I didn't want to be left with. That feeling of: 'Well, I did well, I was there... almost.' Obviously, I would have liked to win, to make it a bit tougher for him. I wasn't surprised at all, we knew how he plays, the serve he has, very powerful and with good placement and variety; we also knew that he would press me a lot with the return, as perhaps, besides the serve, it's the shot with which he applies the most pressure.

From the baseline, he's aggressive, but not as much; with the return, we knew he's very aggressive. I suppose he also knew that my weakest point is that first shot after my serve. He pressed me very well, was aggressive there; still, I was able to win many points with my second serve, but in the crucial points, he attacked it very well and came out on top."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Carreño: "La sensación de "casi" era exactamente con la que no quería quedarme"