
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain celebrates aftre defeating Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic in their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Mensik stunned sixth seed Casper Ruud en route to the third round and looked on track for another win when he took a two-set lead in Melbourne.
He had a match point in the third-set tie break but failed to convert and the more experienced Davidovich Fokina ground his way back as Mensik ran out of puff.
The 66th-ranked Spaniard eventually got over the line 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-4, 6-2 after a draining 3hrs 30mins.
It set him up with a clash against 12th seed Tommy Paul for a place in the quarter-finals after the American downed another Spaniard, Roberto Carballes Baena, in straight sets.
"Wow, I don't know how to describe my feelings," said Davidovich Fokina, who made the fourth round for the first time.
"Three wins for the first time in Australia, it means a lot."
Mensik is one of a trio of teens who set the Australian Open alight with wins over top-10 players, alongside Brazil's Joao Fonseca and American Learner Tien.
While Mensik and the highly rated Fonseca are now out, Tien is still alive after a massive five-set upset of fifth seed Daniil Medvedev.
He plays his third-round match against Frenchman Corentin Moutet on Saturday.
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