What Jakub Mensik was heard telling Alex de Minaur about his injury after retiring from their match at the China Open
Jakub Mensik’s Heartfelt Words to Alex de Minaur After Injury Retirement at China Open
In a tough quarterfinal matchup at the 2025 China Open on September 29, 20-year-old Czech rising star Jakub Mensik was forced to retire after just five games against Australia’s Alex de Minaur, trailing 4-1 in the first set due to a sharp knee injury in his left leg. As Mensik shook hands at the net and limped off the Diamond Court in Beijing, he was overheard sharing a candid, apologetic message with the sympathetic de Minaur—highlighting the camaraderie between the two, who had met three times prior (de Minaur leading 3-0 head-to-head).
What Mensik Said
Microphones captured Mensik’s emotional exchange, where he described the sudden onset of his pain:
**”[Inaudible] Sharp shooting pain, it is going to get worse the more I keep playing.”**
He followed up with a gracious note of sportsmanship: **”Sorry for that, good luck for the rest of the tournament.”**
De Minaur, known for his politeness on tour, responded with encouragement, later telling reporters: “Jakub’s a tough competitor—hate seeing him go through this. Wishing him a speedy recovery.” The moment, shared widely on Tennis TV’s broadcast, drew praise for Mensik’s maturity amid heartbreak, with fans on X noting the “classy” net chat.
Match and Injury Context
Mensik, seeded seventh and ranked No. 19, entered the clash on a hot streak: fresh off a Miami Masters 1000 title (his maiden ATP crown, beating Novak Djokovic in the final) and quarterfinal runs in Brisbane and Auckland earlier in 2025. He’d advanced in Beijing with straight-sets wins over Miomir Kecmanovic (6-4, 6-3) and Arthur Cazaux (6-3, 2-6, 6-4), showcasing his booming serve (averaging 12 aces per match) and aggressive baseline game.
The injury struck early: After de Minaur broke in Mensik’s second service game (to lead 2-1), the Czech called for a medical timeout. Trainers treated his left knee, but upon resuming, Mensik struggled visibly, committing errors before retiring two games later. The issue appears linked to his grueling schedule—US Open fourth round (lost to Taylor Fritz), Davis Cup heroics against the USA, Laver Cup (lost to de Minaur 6-3, 6-4), and rapid travel to Asia—potentially exacerbating fatigue on the slower Beijing hard courts.
Post-match, Mensik posted on X: “Won’t stop 😤… Aiming to recover for Shanghai,” signaling optimism despite the setback. The severity remains unclear, but he plans two weeks off before the Swiss Indoors in Basel. If fit, Shanghai (starting October 3) could see him face Yi Zhou or Jesper de Jong in the first round.
Impact on de Minaur and the Draw
The walkover propelled de Minaur, the third seed and world No. 8, into his fourth semifinal of 2025—equaling his personal-best 47 wins for the season. The Aussie, who cruised past Bu Yunchaokete (6-4, 6-0) and Arthur Rinderknech (6-7(3), 6-2, 6-4) earlier, now faces world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the semis (head-to-head: Sinner leads 10-0). A win there would mark de Minaur’s first victory over a top-ranked player in 2025, boosting his ATP Finals bid.
This incident echoes de Minaur’s own injury woes (hip and ankle issues sidelining him earlier this year), adding a layer of empathy to the exchange. At 26, with 11 ATP titles, de Minaur’s Beijing run continues his hard-court resurgence, but Mensik’s words remind us of the tour’s physical toll on young guns chasing majors. Get well soon, Jakub—tennis needs your firepower.
