The experiment that ended with a Grand Slam title: "All of this is madness"
Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik explained at a press conference how the prior approach was for competing in the mixed doubles at the US Open and what it means to embrace a Grand Slam title for the first time.
Jakub Mensik and Karolina Muchova reached the mixed doubles at the US Open 2026 purely by chance, opting for a different way to gain momentum before facing the singles draw. 36 hours later, both were seen holding their first Grand Slam title in their hands.
The Czech duo defeated Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli early this morning to claim a trophy neither of them expected to lift at the start of the week. “It sounds crazy,” Mensik admitted after the match. The Czech, who was competing in his first mixed doubles tournament of his professional career, couldn't help but joke about his unique statistic: “This is my first mixed doubles tournament, and right now I have a 100% winning record... I think I’m going to finish my career here.” Beyond the irony, Mensik explained that the initial intention was simply to enjoy and play some matches before the singles draw. “It’s incredible how far we’ve come on this journey, we’re both very happy to lift the trophy,” he assured.
Muchova also noted the change in environment they experienced compared to previous rounds. If they had played under the sun at eleven in the morning, the final on Wednesday took them to Arthur Ashe Stadium, completely full and under the spotlight. “It was a great spectacle, it definitely changed the rhythm a bit,” explained the Czech, who also acknowledged that they are both “very competitive” and that this mindset ultimately drove them towards the title.
The battle between Mensik and Muchova over the color of the shirts
The couple also provided one of the tournament's funniest anecdotes regarding the color of their outfits. Mensik admitted that, for him, the shade was practically purple or “wine-colored,” while Muchova insisted on calling it brown. “In my vocabulary, I only have six or seven colors, that’s it. Everything that has the same shade, for me, is the same color,” joked the Czech. Ultimately, they both decided that pink and brown are now their favorite colors.
The good vibes in the press room reached a new level when it came time to discuss how they both connected to compete in the mixed doubles draw. As you can imagine, this wasn't the most orthodox way either. Muchova explained that she wanted to play with Mensik but needed him to raise his ranking to qualify for the tournament: “I put a little pressure on him, but in a fun way. It worked,” she explained.
For Muchova, this is her first Grand Slam title after losing her two previous singles finals, while Mensik celebrates his debut in the big leagues. “I’m not even processing it yet; I need some time,” admitted the Czech. Now both will have to switch gears and focus on singles. Mensik believes that the experience can serve as a boost: “We had really good matches, and that gives us a little confidence boost.” And, above all, they have time to rest. An experiment that started as fun ended with a Grand Slam trophy in the showcase.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El experimento que acabó con un título de Grand Slam: "Todo esto es una locura"