Czech teenager Jakub Mensik stunned top seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets at the Qatar Open, 2024 on Thursday to reach his maiden ATP semifinal and guarantee a spot in the world’s top 100 for the first time. The 18-year-old came through 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) against the fifth-ranked Rublev, a day after defeating three-time Grand Slam title winner Andy Murray.
Mensik will face 2018 champion Gael Monfils for a place in Satruday’s final after the veteran won an all French affair by beating third seed Ugo Humbert 6-2, 6-4.
The other semifinal will see Australia’s Alexei Popyrin face Russian second seed Karen Khachanov. Popyrin eased past Kazakh fourth seed Alexander Bublik 6-4, 6-4 while Khachanov went through when Finnish opponent Emil Ruusuvuori retired with a back injury after just three games.