Mensik’s Ice-Cold Saves Seal Auckland Glory
Jakub Mensik stared down three set points in a gripping tiebreak, turning Sebastian Baez’s perfect 2026 start into his own hard-court triumph under Auckland’s summer lights.
In the humid buzz of Auckland’s harborside arena, Jakub Mensik slammed the door on Sebastian Baez’s fightback, lifting the ASB Classic title with a 6-3, 7-6(7) win that silenced the Argentine’s seven-match streak to open 2026. The 20-year-old Czech delivered a serving clinic on the medium-paced hard courts, firing 11 aces and claiming 95 percent (21/22) of first-serve points in the opener to dictate from the baseline. His heavy topspin forehands pinned Baez deep, forcing errors on crosscourt returns and setting up the lone break in the sixth game, a tactical shift that turned early pressure into command.
“I would say it’s been a great start to the year,” said Mensik in his on-court interview. “I’m super happy that after my preparation and preseason, when obviously you are not in the rhythm and you are coming for the new season with a lot of energy, I showed the performance that I wanted. I’m super happy for the win.”
The future is now @mensik_jakub_ defeats Baez 6-3, 7-6(7) to win his second ATP Tour title and etch his name into Auckland history.@ASB_Classic | #ASBClassic26 pic.twitter.com/nhhBxAhsPx
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 17, 2026
Serving masterclass builds early edge
Mensik’s low-trajectory bombs exploited the surface’s true bounce, allowing quick points off the 1–2 pattern where his slice second serves jammed Baez wide before aggressive net rushes. The Argentine, adapting his clay-honed baseline game to the quicker conditions, struggled to redirect pace against the third seed’s 6-foot-5 frame, which generated sharp angles on inside-out forehands. By holding firm through deuce battles, the Czech carried his opener momentum, the crowd’s rising hum underscoring his poise as new-season rust faded.
As the second set heated up, Mensik broke again for 6-5, his deep returns pulling Baez off the court and exposing second-serve vulnerabilities. Yet Baez, who upset top seed Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals with relentless passing shots, broke back immediately, his compact backhand slicing underspin to keep balls low and skidding. The shift forced Mensik to recalibrate, dialing in varied placement to counter the fighter’s tenacity in grueling exchanges where winners came at a premium.
Tiebreak poise flips mounting pressure
Down 3-6 in the tiebreak, Mensik faced three straight set points, the Auckland air thick with tension as Baez’s down-the-line lasers tested his resolve. He responded with a delicate drop volley that barely cleared the net, an ace firing wide to the deuce side, and a crisp return winner off a second serve, flipping the script in a sequence that echoed his grit against Novak Djokovic in the 2025 Miami Open presented by Itau. This 82-minute thriller wasn’t just power play; it was mental navigation through doubt, the Czech’s focus holding as the Argentine’s surge peaked too soon.
“Seb is a great fighter. It’s super difficult to hit a winner against him,” reflected Mensik. “When I was 6-5 up in the second set, I had been serving very well the whole match and then I went through a couple of second serves. He used the chance, and then in the tie-break, when it was 3/6… I’m happy that I managed to stay focused and keep the spirit until the end.”
Becoming the youngest Auckland champion since Juan Martin del Potro in 2009, Mensik’s high-class display earns his second ATP Tour title at the hard-court ATP 250 event. The win catapults him to No. 17 in the PIF ATP Rankings on Monday, blending this run with his Miami haul to solidify top-20 status. Now heading to Melbourne, he eyes rhythm for his first-round Australian Open clash against Pablo Carreno Busta, where the faster Plexicushion could extend his hot streak amid the majors’ glare.