Mensik upsets Sinner in Doha to reach Qatar Open semi-finals
Jakub Mensik eliminated Jannik sinner from the Qatar Open quarter-final, beating the world number two 7-6 (7-3) 2-6 6-3 and ending a 22-win run that had stretched to 23 matches. The result produces an immediate reshuffle of the last-four line-up in Doha.
Mensik stuns Sinner in Doha
The sixth-seeded Jakub Mensik, 20, edged the first set in a tight opener, allowed Sinner to level by taking the second, then closed out the decider to complete the upset. Sinner had won 22 of his previous 23 matches; his only recent defeat had been against Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals. The match score read 7-6 (7-3) 2-6 6-3.
What Mensik's win means
Mensik, the world number 16 from the Czech Republic, prevented the 24-year-old Italian from reaching another final after a season in which the Italian reached 10 finals and won both the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Mensik's victory moves him into a semi-final against unseeded Arthur Fils, who beat Jiri Lehecka 6-3 6-3 to set up the next-round clash.
Semifinal picture and doubles developments
The bottom half of the Doha draw will see Mensik face Fils for a place in the final — Fils is aiming to add to a recent title and contend for what would be a fourth ATP final and his second of the year after winning the Auckland Open last month for a second career title. In the other singles semi-final, world number one Carlos Alcaraz will meet defending champion Andrey Rublev. Alcaraz came from behind to beat Karen Khachanov 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 6-3 and extended his winning start to the year to 10 matches, having won the Australian Open to complete a noted career milestone. Rublev reached the last four by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3 7-6 (7-2).
In doubles, the top-seeded British pairing of Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool won their semi-final 6-2 6-3 against Quentin Halys and Pierre-Hugues Herbert to book a return to the final. They will face third seeds Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara, who defeated Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori 7-5 6-4. The British pair had won the Doha title last year by beating compatriots Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski, and there will be three Britons in this year's doubles final.
With Mensik now through to the last four, the tournament opens a new pathway to the title and raises the immediate stakes in Doha's remaining matches.
