Jakub Mensik could be made to go through the qualifying rounds at next week’s Monte-Carlo Masters despite being crowned the tour’s latest champion. The Czech teenager upset Novak Djokovic in the Miami Open final on Sunday to win his first ATP Tour title. He has now risen to a career-high ranking of No. 24.
However, when the Monte Carlo entry list was made almost a month ago, Mensik was ranked too low to make the cut for the main draw. As things stand, he is the seventh alternate and will be the top seed in qualifying.
Mensik became the newest Masters 1000 champion when he stunned six-time Miami Open champion Djokovic in two tiebreak sets in the final.
The 19-year-old went on an impressive run in Florida, also taking out recent Indian Wells winner Jack Draper and fourth seed Taylor Fritz.
All eyes will be on Mensik at his next tournament as he bids to carry his momentum into the clay swing. However, the newly-crowned champion could be forced to qualify for next week’s Masters 1000 despite having won a title at the top level already.
The Czech star was ranked at No. 57 in the world when he put his name on the Monte-Carlo Masters entry list, meaning he didn’t make it into the main draw. At the time of entry, the lowest-ranked player was then-world No. 47 Nicolas Jarry.
Mensik is currently the seventh alternate, meaning he would need seven players to pull out in order to get into the main event. By climbing inside the world’s top 25, he will be the No. 1 seed in qualifying if he has to go through the preliminary rounds.
However, three of the four main draw wildcards are still up for grabs and the tournament director could offer one to Mensik after witnessing his efforts at the Miami Open.
Currently, Richard Gasquet is the only player to receive a wildcard. The former world No. 7 is set to retire at the upcoming French Open and is embarking on something of a farewell tour.
Gasquet reached the semi-final in Monte Carlo back in 2005 and has made the quarter-finals three times, most recently in 2018.
Mensik has never competed in the Monte Carlo Masters and, if he gets into the main draw by any means, he will be making his debut. After lifting his maiden title in Miami, the world No. 24 insisted that it was just a starting point.
“1st of many,” Mensik wrote on the camera lens after beating Djokovic, setting his sights on lifting even more trophies.
He later elaborated: “Right now it’s the biggest win of my career so far, and I’m just super happy with that. But I know that this is not the end, and I know that this is just the beginning for me.
“I’m still 19 years old, so I have all of my career in front of me. Of course it feels really great to have this next to me, but it’s, you know, it’s not just about the one title, one tournament, but, you know, I’m hungry for more.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk