I certainly did not see that coming. Frenchman Arthur Fils just picked up the biggest scalp of his career, coming from a set down to take down top seed Alex Zverev.
2025 ATP/ WTA Tour
Masters 1000/ WTA 1000
Miami Open
Miami Gardens, Miami, Florida (Outdoor Hardcourts)
Selected Quarterfinals and Semifinals- 27th-28th March
27th March
Masters 1000 Quarterfinal
Arthur Fils (17) 0.8 vs Jakub Mensik 0.98
The match followed a very similar pattern to Fils’ round of 16 win over Tiafoe, with the Frenchman reacting positively to a mid-match medical issue. Fils tweaked something in his back and upped the aggression in the latter stages of the error-strewn match, ultimately hitting 25 winners to Zverev’s 14. In the process, Fils became just the 3rd Frenchman to reach the quarterfinals of both ‘Sunshine Double’ events in the same year (matching Yannick Noah and Gael Monfils). The hard-hitting Fils is now 6-1 in this year’s ‘Sunshine Double’, and one more victory would secure his maiden Masters 1000 semifinal berth. I wonder if he may change things up take the initiative in the early stages of this quarterfinal clash (especially given his lingering physical issues).
Jakub Mensik would have been watching the Zverev-Fils slugfest with a huge grin on his face. The hard-hitting Czech youngster coasted into the quarterfinals, with compatriot Tomas Machac withdrawing from illness before a single ball was struck in their round of 16 match. The dynamic Czech will feel refreshed, safe in the knowledge that Fils is hardly in peak physical condition. Like Fils, Mensik will also be aiming to reach a maiden Masters 1000 semifinal (he reached the quarters in last year’s Shanghai Masters). The Czech was in poor form coming into this event, winning two matches in his last three events. But he has unlocked some magic on these surfaces, winning three successive matches for the first time this season (and playing some incredible tennis to boot). In his last two matches, Mensik has hit an accumulative 65 winners to just 31 unforced errors (wow). He has put on a serving masterclass this fortnight, firing down 59 aces to just four double faults. He is playing the best tennis of his career and will go into this match with huge amounts of confidence.
The Verdict: Mensik to win in straight sets at 2.25- Fils leads the head-to-head 1-0, easing past the Czech in straight sets during the round-robin stage of last year’s NextGen Finals. I think that Mensik is well positioned to exact some revenge this week. He has been playing supernatural tennis this fortnight and will go into this match the much fresher player. I think his serve is going to guide him to a comfortable win.
