Jannik Sinner eliminated from Qatar Open by Jakub Mensik

Jannik Sinner asserts that he is not worried about his season’s beginning following an unexpected defeat to Jakub Mensik in Doha.

The world No. 2 aimed to replicate rival Carlos Alcaraz’s achievement by advancing to the semifinals of the Qatar Open but was eliminated 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-3 by the 20-year-old Mensik.

Although the Czech player delivered an impressive performance and is regarded as one of the most promising talents of the new generation, Sinner committed some surprising mistakes—especially with his forehand—and this loss follows his defeat to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semifinals.

Thursday night marked the first occasion Sinner, 24, had lost a completed match on hard courts to a player ranked outside the top 10 since October 2023, and he had not missed reaching the final at consecutive events since the summer of 2024.

“He served really well, so it was difficult to return,” Sinner remarked. “It was a tough break in the third set, with a few mistakes. It can happen, of course, but at the same time, I’m somewhat disappointed in how I managed those moments.

“Every player experiences fluctuations in form. I’ve had two remarkable years. Experiencing a slight downturn is not something that will concern me. I am aware that I can perform a bit better.”

A year ago, Sinner was starting a three-month doping suspension after reaching an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency, and he did not return until the Rome Masters in May.

Now, Sinner can prepare for the Sunshine Double of Indian Wells and Miami next month, where he will aim to narrow the ranking gap to Alcaraz, which could exceed 3,000 points by the end of the week.

Source: espn.com