Tiafoe Saves Two Match Points, Defeats Defending Champion Mensik in Miami Thriller

MIAMI – Frances Tiafoe overcame defending champion Jakub Mensik in a thrilling third-round match at the Miami Open presented by Itau on Monday, saving two match points to secure a 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(11) victory. The win marked Tiafoe’s 250th career tour-level win, making him the second active American, alongside Taylor Fritz, to reach that milestone.

Tiafoe Edges Past Mensik in a Marathon Battle

The match was a back-and-forth affair, with both players showcasing impressive resilience. Mensik, the defending champion who defeated Novak Djokovic in the 2025 Miami Open final, proved a formidable opponent. However, Tiafoe demonstrated his ability to perform under pressure, saving match points at 7/8 and 9/10 in the deciding tie-break.

The first set saw Tiafoe dominate the tie-break, winning it 7-4. Mensik responded strongly in the second set, securing a break and ultimately taking the set 6-4. The third set was a tense battle, with both players holding serve until the tie-break.

Dramatic Tie-Break Seals Victory for Tiafoe

The third-set tie-break was a rollercoaster of emotions. Tiafoe initially gained a 6-3 lead, but Mensik fought back, saving three match points to level the score at 8-8. The American then faced two more match points before finally converting his seventh match point after two hours and 51 minutes of play.

“I am pretty pumped,” Tiafoe said after the match. “I have put in a lot of work to win matches like these, to get myself to be able to hang tough and be tough and to play great tennis three hours in. I was hurting, he was hurting. A day match is never easy. I am super happy with the match. It is one of those even if you go down, it was a great battle.”

Next Round for Tiafoe

Tiafoe, the No. 20 seed, will next face Terence Atmane, who upset Top 10 player Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 in the third round. This will be Tiafoe’s fifth time reaching the fourth round in Miami, and the first since 2022.

Mensik’s Title Defense Ends

Despite the loss, Mensik’s performance demonstrated his continued growth as a player. However, the defeat means he will drop 13 places to 26th in the live ATP rankings and will relinquish his position as the top-ranked Czech player to Jiří Leheček.

Results of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Miami can be found on the official ATP Tour website.