Mensik recounts his miraculous recovery from extreme cramps

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The feat of Jakub Mensik at Roland Garros 2026 continues to grow. The young Czech advanced to the round of 16 after defeating Alex de Minaur in a demanding match. Just two days after facing serious physical problems in his previous match, he once again demonstrated a mental and physical strength beyond his years.

Following the victory, Jakub Mensik explained in detail the tough recovery process he had to endure during the 48 hours after his last match, marked by cramps and significant dehydration. The Czech also discussed how he managed to come back after a disastrous first set, admitting that this tournament is revealing new physical limits for him and surprising by explaining exactly what he feels when nerves kick in before a match.

This is how Mensik went from a wheelchair to reaching the Roland Garros 2026 round of 16

A victory built on resilience

"It was a very tough match. Alex played very well throughout, and I had to bring my best to overcome this round. He deserves a lot of credit because he put on a great performance."

"Overall, it was a challenging day. Physically, I was still feeling the effects of the previous match, and mentally it wasn't easy to face off against someone like Alex, who covers the court well, doesn't give away points, and was also an opponent I had never defeated before. That's why I struggled to get into the match. I felt that my body needed time to get back into gear after all the effort in the preceding days."

The hardest 48 hours of recovery in his career

"Usually, a recovery day involves mostly resting and doing nothing. But during the last 48 hours, I had to do a lot. The first day was mainly about calming the body down because after the cramps and dehydration, I needed to intake as many fluids as possible."

"The following day, the work was more physical. We did cardio because I needed to keep the body active and convert all the accumulated lactic acid in my legs into energy to compete today. My team did a fantastic job. I am very grateful because we managed to arrive strong enough to compete again at the highest level under such tough conditions."

How he managed to bounce back after a disastrous first set

"The first set was very tough. Even during the warm-up before the match, I struggled to activate my body again. It had only been 48 hours since the previous effort, and although I tried to keep my energy high, I needed time to get back into a competitive rhythm."

"The rhythm of a match is nothing like that of a practice or warm-up. Honestly, I'm not even sure what was going on inside me during that first set. I was completely stuck in my thoughts. After the first set and a visit to the restroom, I managed to free myself mentally, and from there, I started to feel back in the match. Once I found the rhythm and tempo of the match, I'm very pleased that in the three sets I won, I didn't give him any chance to get back into the fight."

Roland Garros is pushing his limits

"This tournament is testing me physically like never before, and I'm very happy about it. Winning a five-set match that lasted nearly five hours is one thing, but having to play again 48 hours later knowing that the next match could be just as long or even longer is another challenge."

"I remember other five-set matches in the past where I ended up completely exhausted and could hardly move the next day. This time was different. Obviously, recovering after a win always helps more, but returning to compete so strongly both physically and mentally after all I went through is something I value greatly. We worked hard to achieve it, and I am very pleased to have discovered that I am capable of doing it."

The strategy to defeat Alex de Minaur

"Alex is a great guy, and we had already played several times, so we know each other quite well on the court. I knew exactly what to expect."

"He is one of the fastest players on the circuit. When you attack, it seems like he is everywhere. Perhaps the conditions favored me a bit because the ball bounced higher and faster. Although clay may not be his favorite surface, he remains an extremely tough opponent. We had a very clear game plan, although I certainly won't explain it here, and I believe in the second, third, and fourth set, I managed to execute it quite well."

What he truly feels when nerves arise

"It's a good question because I could talk a lot about it. For me, feeling nervous and feeling fear are two completely different things."

"When I am nervous, I feel butterflies in my stomach and my mind feels a bit scattered, as if I am in many places at once and not exactly in the present moment. But I have learned to manage those situations, to try to stay calm, and to remain in the present as much as possible. Actually, when I am nervous, I consider it a good sign."

At just 20 years old, Jakub Mensik continues to establish himself as one of the standout players at Roland Garros 2026. Beyond just results, the Czech is discovering in Paris a physical and mental resilience that even he didn't know he had, a quality that could prove decisive in advancing further in the tournament.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Mensik relata su milagrosa recuperación de los calambres extremos