Bergs Grinds Out Win Over Mensik in United Cup Heat
Zizou Bergs turns mounting pressure into a hard-fought victory against Jakub Mensik, securing Belgium’s early edge in the United Cup quarterfinals with grit that echoes through the Perth courts.
In the charged atmosphere of Perth’s RAC Arena, Zizou Bergs delivered a performance that blended raw determination with tactical savvy. The Belgian, fresh off upending Felix Auger-Aliassime in group play, outlasted Jakub Mensik 6-2, 7-6(4) to hand Belgium a 1-0 lead over Czechia in the United Cup quarterfinals. This clash, played on the grippy hard courts under Thursday evening lights, marked Bergs’ second straight win against top-20 opposition, transforming his 2-16 record into a streak that feels like destiny unfolding.
Bergs controlled the opener with precise redirects, using heavy topspin to push Mensik deep and force errors on crosscourt rallies. His 1–2 pattern off the serve opened angles for inside-in forehands, converting three of five break points in just 35 minutes. The Czech’s flat backhands, potent on faster surfaces, struggled against the court’s spin-friendly bounce, allowing Bergs to dictate tempo from the baseline.
“First of all, I didn’t even know I was 5-4 up and then I got broken and I was 5-5,” Bergs said. “And then I break back and you just want to finish, you’re so close, you’re playing big points. I got tight, I go backwards, I play defensive. so it was a very big struggle in the end. I’m so happy for myself and the team.”
Top-20 doubts fade early
Bergs entered the United Cup with baggage from those sixteen losses to elite players, but his approach against Mensik showed evolution. He mixed slice backhands to disrupt rhythm, drawing the Czech forward into vulnerable positions before passing down-the-line. The Belgian contingent’s cheers amplified his looseness, turning potential hesitation into aggressive net rushes that sealed the first set’s dominance. This shift wasn’t just technical; it carried the psychological weight of proving he belonged on this stage.
Mensik, a 21-year-old with booming serves, adapted by flattening his groundstrokes to exploit any lulls, but Bergs’ footwork kept him covering ground efficiently. The surface’s even pace rewarded consistency, and Bergs capitalized with varied depths that prevented easy counters. By set’s end, his confidence surged, setting up a second set where victory seemed within grasp—until nerves intervened.
Pressure cracks in the clutch
As the score reached 5-4 in the second, Bergs served for the match twice, the semis dangling like a promise. But tension warped his strokes; crosscourt lasers turned tentative, inviting Mensik to unleash inside-out forehands that leveled the set at 5-5 via a lucky net cord. The Czech seized momentum with a searing backhand up the line for another break at 5-6, forcing a tiebreak where every point pulsed with stakes. Bergs, tightening under the spotlight, retreated to safer patterns, his topspin looping higher as defense overtook attack.
In the breaker, he rediscovered edge with a clutch forehand winner on set point, clinching 7-6(4) after one hour and forty minutes. This late wobble exposed the mental grind of team events, where individual resolve ripples to the squad. Mensik’s resilience kept it close, but Bergs’ ability to refocus turned potential collapse into triumph, echoing his Auger-Aliassime upset.
Belgium eyes semifinal surge
Now, with Czechia trailing, Elise Mertens takes the court against Barbora Krejcikova, her serve-volley prowess tested on these same boards. Bergs’ grit positions Belgium for a deep run, blending personal breakthroughs with collective fire. The 26-year-old’s journey from underdog to anchor hints at a season defined by overcoming inner pressure, as the Perth buzz builds toward what could be their strongest United Cup showing yet.
