In an unexpected turn of events at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah, teenage tennis prodigy Jakub Mensik was asked to undergo an anti-doping test during his match against Arthur Fils. The incident occurred during a critical moment in the match, causing quite a stir among fans and officials alike.
Mensik, a 19-year-old Czech player currently ranked 48th in the world, was already under pressure after losing his first match against Learner Tien. He was trailing Fils, the 20th-ranked French player, by a set when he requested a toilet break. Upon returning to the court, Mensik was visibly frustrated as he informed umpire Nacho Forcadell that he had been asked to take a doping test at that precise moment.
The situation was unprecedented, and the umpire had to intervene to clarify the matter with the organizers. The match was delayed briefly, but eventually resumed, with Fils going on to win in straight sets, 4-2, 4-3, 4-2.
Mensik, known for his tall frame and agile movement on the court, compared himself to current world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and expressed his admiration for the Italian player. Despite the setback, Mensik remains determined to make his mark in the tournament and aims for an overall win.
The incident has sparked discussions about the timing and protocol of anti-doping tests during matches, with many questioning whether it was appropriate to conduct such tests in the middle of a game. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Mensik to see how he bounces back from this unexpected challenge.
Jakub Mensik in 2024
At the moment ranked no.48 (career-high), Jakub played his last match on the 19th of December when he capitulated to world no.20 Arthur Fils 4-2 4-3(4) 4-2 in the round robin in the Next Gen ATP Finals (draw).
During this season the Czech has a 41-26 match record. Jakub Mensik’s most significant achievement of the current season was getting to the final in the Canberra Challenger and Doha.