- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Jakub Mensik Shocks Jannik Sinner in Doha Quarterfinals
Rising Czech talent defeats No. 2 seed Sinner in three sets at Qatar ExxonMobil Open
Published on Feb. 27, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Jakub Mensik, a rising Czech tennis player, delivered a stunning upset over Italy's Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open ATP 500 event in Doha. Mensik won the match 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-3, showcasing a dominant service game and saving key break points to secure the victory over the highly-ranked Sinner.
Why it matters
Mensik's victory over Sinner, a top contender, has reshaped the competitive landscape of the Doha tournament, potentially clearing a path for players like world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz to advance further. The upset also highlights the emergence of new talents on the ATP Tour, adding an intriguing storyline as the season progresses.
The details
During the decisive third set, Mensik won 14 of 16 first-service points and maintained an 81.7% first-serve win rate, helping him overcome Sinner. Mensik also successfully saved five out of seven break points across the match. This defeat marks a rare setback for Sinner, who had not missed reaching the final in consecutive tournaments since mid-2024.
- The quarterfinal match took place on Thursday, February 20, 2026 in Doha, Qatar.
The players
Jakub Mensik
A rising Czech tennis talent who delivered a stunning upset over Italy's Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open.
Jannik Sinner
An Italian tennis player who was the No. 2 seed at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, but was upset by Jakub Mensik in the quarterfinals.
Carlos Alcaraz
The world No. 1 tennis player and top seed at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, who advanced to the semifinals after a tough quarterfinal battle.
Arthur Fils
A French tennis player who will face Jakub Mensik in the semifinals of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open after upsetting Czech eighth seed Jiri Lehecka.
Andrey Rublev
The Russian No. 5 seed who will face Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open after defeating Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas.
What’s next
With Sinner eliminated, top seed Carlos Alcaraz of Spain now faces a less obstructed path to the ATP 500 title in Doha. Alcaraz will face Russian No. 5 seed Andrey Rublev in the semifinals, while Mensik's next opponent will be Frenchman Arthur Fils.
The takeaway
Jakub Mensik's breakthrough performance in Doha is likely to boost his confidence as he prepares for a challenging semifinal match against Arthur Fils, further showcasing the emergence of new talents on the ATP Tour and adding an intriguing storyline as the season progresses.
