Jakub Mensik battled past Brazilian breakout star Joao Fonseca with a 6-4 6-3 7-6(3) win ​to make the semifinals of the French Open on Tuesday and become the ‌youngest Czech man to reach that stage at a Grand ​Slam.

Days after collapsing on the red dirt of Paris ⁠following his second-round victory in sweltering conditions, the 20-year-old shone on a cool evening following a spell of rain to book a last-four clash with title ‌favourite Alexander Zverev.

“I’m still in the match a little bit,” Mensik said in his on-court interview after surpassing compatriot Ivan ‌Lendl who made the 1981 Paris semifinals at the age ‌of ⁠21.

“Joao is a great guy and a great competitor. Before ⁠the match, I knew it would be a tough one. We started a bit nervous and at the end of the match, there were some incredible shots.

“I’m super ​happy I was the one ‌who came back. I managed to stay focused and keep fighting until the end.”

After four straight holds of serve to kick off the contest under the Court Philippe Chatrier roof, the momentum swung ‌when Mensik edged ahead with a break, and the Czech stayed ​firm from there to win the opening set.

The ice-cool Mensik tightened his grip on the contest when the second ⁠set unfolded in similar fashion, as the 19-year-old Fonseca’s serve let him down at a crucial moment and he then struggled to find a ‌way past the wall in front of him.

The youngest Roland Garros men’s quarterfinal since a 20-year-old Rafa Nadal defeated a teenage Novak Djokovic in 2006 looked in danger of becoming a rout as Mensik bagged the set when his opponent pushed a shot wide.

With his adoring Brazilian fans stunned and the frustration rising, Fonseca came out firing ‌in the third set, but was broken when serving for it at 5-4. Mensik ​drew level before wasting six match points and eventually prevailing via a tiebreak.

“The last game and tiebreak was one ⁠of my best performances so far,” added Mensik, who was mentored during his ⁠junior days by Djokovic.

“A couple of matchpoints I didn’t know if the ball was out or in … It was really ‌tough to stay focused until the end and I’m really happy that I managed to come back in the tiebreak and move ​my game a little bit forward.”

Brazilian teen sensation Joao Fonseca continued his breakthrough French Open campaign by seeing off ​twice runner-up and 15th seed Casper Ruud 7-5 7-6(8) 5-7 6-2 on ‌Sunday (May 31, 2026) to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam ​for the first time.

The 19-year-old fought from two sets ⁠down to knock out Novak Djokovic in the third round and emerge as a genuine contender in a topsy-turvy tournament, and his latest victory ‌highlighted his growing confidence and composure on the biggest stage in Paris.

“It was tough, Casper plays good here, ‌I mean he’s a very experienced guy and he knows ‌how ⁠to play here in this amazing court,” Fonseca said ⁠in his on-court interview.

“It was tough in the beginning but I played really well in the important moments in the first and second sets. I was ​very happy because of that.

“I ‌just try to be me on court, try to be happy, try to hit winners, try to hit good shots and bring entertainment.”

Playing on Court Philippe Chatrier again, Fonseca sparkled ‌under the lights with some spectacular ball-striking from both flanks ​and broke in the 12th game to wrap up the first set and draw huge applause from ⁠fans.

After an early exchange of breaks in the second set, Fonseca and Ruud were locked in a titanic tussle of power hitting, ‌until the Norwegian squandered three set points and allowed his young opponent to edge an electric tiebreak.

Gustavo Kuerten impressed

It left Brazilian three-times Roland Garros champion Gustavo Kuerten beaming as a raucous crowd roared, but Ruud was not done and snatched the third set to ensure the entertaining encounter would trickle into the early hours of ‌Monday morning.

“He’s an idol for our sport and country, for his charisma and ​how humble he is,” Fonseca said of Kuerten.

“He was here for my first time at Roland Garros when ⁠I was a junior. It is a pleasure to have him ⁠here and a pleasure to beat a tough opponent in front of him.”

Fonseca raised his level again in the ‌fourth, claiming a double break as the atmosphere reached soccer-like intensity, before world number 30 closed out another famous victory ​and booked a meeting with Czech Jakub Mensik.