AAP Tennis

Mensik heads to Australian Open on winning note

By AAP Newswire

Jan 17, 2026

Third-seeded Jakub Mensik served 18 aces on his way to a 6-3 7-6 (9-7) win over Sebastien Baez in the final of the ATP 250 tournament in Auckland.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

The 20-year-old from the Czech Republic, ranked 18th, saved three set points in the second-set tiebreak on Saturday to claim his second ATP Tour title.Â

He now heads to the Australian Open where he will play Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta in the first round.

Baez, who beat top-seeded American Ben Shelton in the quarter-finals, will play Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round in Melbourne.

Mensik breezed through the first set in 31 minutes with 11 aces and served for the second set at 6-5. But Baez broke him for the first time in the match and led 6-3 in the tiebreak before Mensik won three straight points.

Mensik gained his second match point with his 18th ace, then took the final point off Baez's serve to seal the match.

"I would say it has been a great start of the year," Mensik said. "Obviously, I'm super happy after the preparation and pre-season. Seb is a great fighter. It's difficult to hit a winner against him."