Fritz Faces Mensik for Miami Open Final Spot

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — American tennis star Taylor Fritz will face the Czech Republic’s Jakub Mensik in the semifinals of the Miami Open on March 28, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium. Ranked No. 4 in the world, Fritz seeks to advance to his first Miami Open final after overcoming a tough quarterfinal match against Matteo Berrettini.

Fritz, who took nearly three hours to defeat Berrettini in a hard-fought encounter, finishing 7-5, 6-7(7), 7-5, comes into this match with renewed determination. “It was a tough match, but I kept telling myself that it was about staying focused, not getting frustrated,” Fritz said after his quarterfinal triumph.

Mensik, ranked No. 54, has shown impressive form at this tournament, defeating higher-seeded players including Indian Wells champion Jack Draper. He secured his semifinals spot with a straight-set win against Arthur Fils, ending 7-6(5), 6-1. “New blood is coming,” Mensik said, acknowledging his rapid improvements in the sport. He aims to mark his place among tennis greats like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner with a victory over Fritz.

The two players have faced off once before, during the 2023 US Open, where Fritz dominated Mensik, winning 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 on the teenager’s 18th birthday. However, as Mensik reflected, he is no longer the same player he was back then. “I’ve evolved a lot since our last match, and I believe I can compete with the best,” he added.

Fritz leads their head-to-head records 1-0, but he acknowledges that facing a younger, faster competitor might present different challenges this time. “He has a great serve and is playing with a lot of confidence,” Fritz said. “It’ll be interesting to see how I handle his game.”

Throughout the Miami Open, Fritz has yet to drop a set until his quarterfinal battle, showcasing his prowess on hard courts. Meanwhile, Mensik’s consistent improvement is reflected in his strong serves and groundstrokes, evidenced by hitting 191 aces this season.

As both players prepare for their semifinal encounter, fans can expect an exciting match, with Fritz hoping the home crowd will give him the edge. Tournament predictions favor Fritz to win in three sets due to his experience and recent performances, which suggest he is hitting his stride just in time for a potential final showdown against one of the other top players, either Novak Djokovic or Grigor Dimitrov.