QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN

February 23, 2024

Jakub Mensik

Press Conference

J. MENSIK/G. Monfils

6-4, 1-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Amazing match, Jakub. I think you're a player who likes fast-paced tennis. On the other hand, Gael is very unorthodox, very different, doesn't give you the same look on the ball. How did that affect your game and how do you counter it?

JAKUB MENSIK: Yeah, it was very difficult for me, because yesterday I played against Andrey, and all of the show was on his side. He's playing so aggressive. So yesterday I felt on the court that I'm just the defensive player, and today it was completely different against Gael.

I know him from when I was young. I watched him in the television. You know, he's incredible player. Such a good guy, you know.

For me, it was amazing to play, to have that opportunity to play against him. I know it was really difficult with him because of the greatest movement of all time on the court.

Yeah, really difficult. I'm really happy with the W today, because in the past, I had problems with these type of players, you know, that I did a lot of mistakes, but today I played my best tennis and reached the final.

I'm really happy.

Q. In your previous press conference, you spoke about a mental coach. You said you have been working with him for a few years. I wonder why you started. You would have probably been 11 or 12. What was the reason you started with someone so early?

JAKUB MENSIK: It was nothing that, I wouldn't say that I was, like, struggling with my mental side of view, but it was just that I was injured when I was 13, 14, and I couldn't play tennis, couldn't do fitness stuff.

So we tried something else to improve from the other side for tennis. Yeah, that's why I start to also train my mental side. For me now it's also the most important thing on the court right now.

Q. I also wanted to ask you about Alcaraz and Sinner, who are already at the top of the game. They are also really young players. Do you take inspiration from them? Do you watch a lot of them?

JAKUB MENSIK: Of course. I mean, Carlos and Jannik are unbelievable players. Both them, what they did in these young ages, it's incredible, you know, so I took a lot of inspiration from them.

You know, when I started to play pro tennis, they were already on top, you know, so it was also great to watch them improve on the ATP Tour. I remember that I saw first match of Jannik. He played I think Rotterdam, received a wildcard there, beat Goffin there. So I thought, yeah, he's really young, he can be good.

Now that he won four years later, three years later, he won Australian Open, also the same, Carlos, I remember him that I was in the junior US Open, and he already reached the fourth round there, and he still could compete with the juniors but he was already competing with the pros in these days (smiling).

So, yeah, it's really great that I saw these guys in also in the young age, the improvement, how the improvement went. So for me it's a big inspiration, for sure, and for the future I will be happy if I can be on the top with them.

Q. You play first final in your life tomorrow. How do you approach it?

JAKUB MENSIK: How do I approach it?

Q. What do you expect? How do you feel?

JAKUB MENSIK: Tough to say. I just finished the semifinal, so yeah, I'm really looking forward to play in my first finals on ATP Tour, and I think that's not going to be different like past matches, so I'm trying to enjoy the moment on the court, trying to play my best tennis, trying to stay calm, stay focused the whole week.

So I will do the same tomorrow, and yeah, if I will win, I win. If I lose, I lose.

Q. What do you know about Khachanov?

JAKUB MENSIK: Tough question. I mean, I didn't see how he played past days. I mean, the scores of course, but I didn't see him in person, to play.

So we will do good preparation with my coach, like always, like all days. So, yeah, I think that of course he reached the finals, he's top-20 guy, so it will be tough match, for sure.

But, you know, it's the finals, and we are both there. Yeah, that's all what I'm going to say about that, yeah (smiling).

Q. When you first landed here in Doha, did you imagine or expect that you will go that far in this tournament and you play your first ATP final? And could you tell us, please, how did you live this week here in Doha, beating maybe your idols that you have been watching maybe on TV?

JAKUB MENSIK: Yeah, I have to say, no, I didn't expect that when I came here for the first practice, you know. I didn't feel real well on my racquet. I felt that it's going to be tough one.

I just said, Okay, it's my first ATP main draw. Let's enjoy that. Let's enjoy every moment on the court. Try to play my tennis (smiling).

Look, I reached the final, so yeah, that's absolutely crazy, and I'm very happy that I achieved that. Yeah, the job is not done. Hopefully tomorrow I will lift the trophy.