The match likely had no business being so close between Frances Tiafoe and Jakub Mensik in the third round of the 2026 Miami Open. Even in the first set, the Czech was more aggressive and landed his first serve more, but the American, through sheer will, often has a way of making matches weird. He did just that.
Neither player broke serve in set one, forcing a tie-break that Tiafoe, with the south Florida tennis fans firmly behind him, took 7-4. While Taifoe always plays with hope, his form of late has been iffy, but the fans watching weren't going to let that disrupt what the American might have been capable of on Monday.
The second set was tense, too, but again, no real reason existed for it. Mensik had 18 winners and just 13 unforced errors, while Tiafoe had just five and six, respectively. But statistics weren't going to matter in this match of the 28-year-old American versus the 20-year-old Czech. The outcome would be determined by who could hold their poise the longest.
Frances Tiafoe defeats Jakub Mensik in the third round of the 2026 Miami Open
Frances Tiafoe, even while not landing a huge percentage, definitely had his serve and forehand working, and that brought the crowd to life. His showmanship helped, too. He is at his best when, even without playing with elite precision, he can ramp up the fans, and they return with full volume.
He turns tennis matches into an all-involving event, and he is brilliant at doing so. He would need that level of energy to continue against the 2025 Miami Open champion, Mensik, however.
The third set proceeded quickly as neither player was truly ever in trouble on their serve while the set reached 6-all. Mensik was able to win a few more points on Tiafoe's serve than the American was on his, and one might have logically thought this if the final set had gotten to a tie-break, which it inevitably was, the young Czech might have had the advantage.
On the first point of the tie-break, Mensik hit a wicked forehand that Tiafoe was barely able to reach and flicked it over the net somehow. Mensik's return went into the net. The question was whether luck was on the 19-seed's side and he would pull off the slight upset against the 12-seed.
At 2-all, though, Jakub Mensik pulled off the shot of the match when the two players were brought into the net, and after a Tiafoe forehand, Mensik was somehow able to get his racket on the ball for a winner. He wouldn't hold the advantage long, however, as he double-faulted on the next point. By this point, the fans were fully into the match with both players getting well-deserved respect.
Shockingly, Mensik double-faulted on the next point too, and Tiafoe was able to grow the lead to 6-3. After Mensik held to get to 5-6, the American faulted on his first serve, and then Mensik eventually struck a forehand that won the point and evened the match. The issue was that on what could have been the final point, a child began crying as Tiafoe served, clearly throwing off his rhythm.
Tiafoe won the next point, but Mensik got his 21st ace of the match to get to 7-all. The Czech got to 8-7 on a fantastic forehand that skimmed the net and easily landed in. He could build on the advantage. Nothing in this magical and well-played match was going to be easy for either player.
Serving at 9-10, Tiafoe and Mensik had a 23-stroke rally that the American eventually won to save match point. The American got another minibreak at 11-all, and had his seventh match point at 12-11. This time, he wouldn't lose. He took the tie-break in the third set 13-11.
Tiafoe will be favored to win his round of 16 match as well. He will take on Terence Atmane, who is unseeded but playing at a high level and who defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime in his third-round match. The 24-year-old Frenchman made the semifinals at the Cincinnati Masters in 2025, but hasn't made it past the third round in any other Masters or Grand Slam event.