QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN

February 21, 2024

Jakub Mensik

Press Conference

J. MENSIK/A. Murray

7-6, 6-7, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Congratulations for the win. How did you manage to stay focused after serving twice for the set and then Murray coming back to tie the match?

JAKUB MENSIK: Yeah, that was really difficult. I knew before that Andy is a big fighter, and when I was 5-2 up in the third, yeah, he started to play another level.

So I tried to stay calm but nothing was working, so yeah, after that, when it was 5-All, I just tried to stay calm, tried to stay focused and tried to play a little bit more aggressive, because he started also to play a bit more aggressive. So I think that was the key in the tiebreak, that I achieved that.

Q. Andy was just saying that when he started on the tour, he felt it was easier for him to play the big names because he watched them on TV and he was really excited to play those guys. Did you feel the same, that you were going to play Andy today?

JAKUB MENSIK: Yeah, for sure. I mean, especially Andy and all of them, like Big 4 players, Novak, Rafa, Andy, and Roger. When I was young, I watched them in the TV, you know, so for me it's unbelievable experience and the dream to play against one of these big guys.

Yeah, I'm just happy that I get the W today against Andy. I know it was super difficult, but for me, it's now to the next round, so I will have more confidence that I know that I can beat these big players.

Q. My question is you said before that you have the confidence to take down the big guys, and I think you made your point. So who's down your list? Who do you wish to play with next in the next tournaments?

JAKUB MENSIK: Yeah, that's tough question. I mean, every tournament is different. You can see there are a lot of different players, you know. So for sure it was Taylor Fritz, Hubert Hurkacz, Australian Open. I think these are the guys in top 50, top 60 that I want to play against them, because all of the experiences and all of these, like, matches for me when I'm still young, it's super nice to play, and, yeah, to have the opportunity to play against them, it's really nice and for the future it's just great for me.

Q. Novak invited you to practice with him in Belgrade two years ago. Could you tell us something about it?

JAKUB MENSIK: You mean Novak, if he give me some advice or what?

Q. Just about that, that he invited you to practice with him.

JAKUB MENSIK: Ah, okay. Yeah, yeah, it was after 2022, Australian Open finals. He know that he's my biggest idol, so he invited me to Belgrade and then after to Montenegro to spend some days with him of practicing, you know, doing all the stuff off the court also.

It's really nice that one of the best players in the history invited me and I had that opportunity to play against him, to practice with him. So all of these experiences and advices for the future and for matches are just really good.

Q. What advices did he give you?

JAKUB MENSIK: I'm not going to tell you (smiling).

No, I mean, it was not that one advice. You know, it was the complex of the little things, what he's doing different off the court, on the court. So for me, I was just watching him and, you know, trying to analyze his routines and everything.

So just to be there with him and watch him to practice, to doing all the stuffs, warmup, you know, and then cooldown and everything. It's just, for me, really great for future, like I told you.

It's not just because he gave me some advices that you have to do like this, you have to do like this. It's just that trying to put all these little things in my game and in my career.

Q. You played very long match today. How do you feel physically? You will be ready for tomorrow physically and mentally?

JAKUB MENSIK: Yeah, it was one of the longest matches I ever played. Yeah, I can tell you that I'm tired, but, you know, I'm good, I'm here and my physio and everything. I felt really good on the court physically.

So I think that we will do our best to prepare for tomorrow's quarterfinals, and hopefully I will be 100% ready for the match. Yeah, I have all the stuff here to reach the level again.

Q. It's the first time I meet you, so I just quiz about why do you play tennis? How do you start? Why not hockey or soccer in Czech Republic?

JAKUB MENSIK: Yeah, it's complex question. I mean, it's a long story, you know, so I will try to tell you just the point of that.

So when I was young, four years old, we have got in front of our house two courts. I watched little kids playing tennis, so I asked my parents if I can try to play also.

So yeah, they just said, Of course. They always wanted for me to play, to do some sports. That's why I choose tennis, because I live in Prostejov also, and there it's the biggest National Tennis Center in Czech Republic, so I think it's also the reason why I choose tennis.