Mensik analyzes his defeat to Zverev: "With other tactical decisions, maybe I would have won"

Fernando Murciego | 5 Jun 2026 | 19.46

Mensik analyzes his defeat to Zverev: "With other tactical decisions, maybe I would have won." Source: Getty

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The path of Jakub Mensik at Roland Garros 2026 this Friday, ended in defeat against the best man left standing. Alexander Zverev clearly stopped the Czech player, but the 20-year-old can be very satisfied.

He had never before reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam, making this Roland Garros the definitive breakthrough for the young Jakub Mensik. Displaying maturity, a more complete game, and a game suited for long matches, the Czech leaves Paris feeling that his progress is on the right track. Today, it was impossible to challenge the German, but time will reveal his potential in these types of tournaments. These were his statements after bidding farewell to the tournament.

Jakub Mensik reflects on his defeat against Alexander Zverev

“Even today, whether I had won or not, in general, I would say it was a truly excellent tournament, a great experience. Right now, of course, I am sad for the defeat, but I hope that in a few hours or days, I can look at this match, not just the match but the tournament as a whole, in a positive light. Today's match had many stories, as always. Sascha is a very tough opponent on the court, not giving away any points, making it very difficult to find rhythm, especially when he plays so far back, feeling like you're hitting against a wall. It was very hard for me to find my rhythm, to get into my zone. I had my game plan, but in some aspects, it was very complicated to choose the right shots. Obviously, there were good moments and also some worse ones during the match, but that's how it goes.”

Why is it so challenging to face Zverev?

“In the first two sets, I had a very hard time finding rhythm and finding myself on the court, both physically and mentally. Sascha is a player who disrupts your rhythm, prolongs the exchanges, and I struggled to find good sensations and get into my zone, which I didn't achieve in those two sets, leading to an energy drop. Physically, it has been a long tournament, I recovered well in those two days, but still during the match, I felt the left side of my neck getting stiff. I wouldn't say it's an injury or anything that will keep me out for long, I just felt a stiff neck at that moment, which prevented me from making some movements. So, I would say it was a slight discomfort during the match, nothing serious.”

Mensik highlights Zverev's most powerful weapon

“Sascha's serve is a huge weapon. In the first set, or generally in those two sets I was talking about regarding finding my zone and finding myself on the court, that had a lot to do with it because Sascha practically didn't give me any opportunities, except for that game you mentioned. Maybe if I had managed to break his serve, the match would have gone in a different direction, but I said it the other day and also after each match: it all depends on the momentum, the dynamics. Unfortunately, although I had break opportunities in the first set, he had them too. He capitalized on them and took control of the match. That's what it comes down to. Sascha is the number three in the world for a reason; he's a player who doesn't allow you to maintain momentum in your favor for long. Although I had some great games and opportunities, with his big serve and solid baseline game, it was very difficult to attack him and also find the momentum and shift it to my side.”

Learning for future matchups

“I clearly felt that there were ways to win this match. It wasn't like losing in straight sets and him completely dominating me. Of course, I would also be sad in that case, but I feel more like there were paths to get it done. Today, it was really hard to find those paths, especially when it came to selecting the right shots or perhaps using certain tactics, like serve and volley or many drop shots at the right moments, there were situations in which those points won me many games. Unfortunately, some of those decisions didn't turn out as well, so yes, maybe if we played the same match tomorrow or the day after, but with better tactical choices, it could be me winning. All credit to Sascha today, who maintained his momentum, kept his rhythm, and didn't allow me to seize it from him.”

Jakub Mensik evaluates his journey at Roland Garros 2026

“It's only been a few minutes since the match, so I'm still processing it, but perhaps tomorrow or in a few hours, I'll see it from another perspective. When I think about what happened these two weeks, even though I lost this match even playing solidly, I still see many positive things. I am super happy to have reached the semifinals and to have defeated many great players. Also, there were many tough moments where it seemed like it was all over for me, but I got up, kept fighting, and found a way to win. When the momentum was on my side and I was playing well and confidently, I showed the best tennis I have inside. It has been two weeks full of stories; maintaining this level and rhythm for two weeks is very challenging. Especially in a Grand Slam, playing against the best players. Plus, it was my first time, so many things happened for the first time. I'm happy to have handled it quite well and I take this tournament as a truly great experience.”

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Mensik analiza su derrota con Zverev: “Con otras decisiones tácticas, quizá habría ganado yo"

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