Italian Open star fumes at fan as security put on standby | Tennis | Sport

Italian open star Jakub Mensik raged at fans in attendance for his last 32 clash with Fabian Marozsan, before asking the umpire to consider intervening during the match. The Czech star led 6-4, 3-3 (30-15) and was aiming to hold his serve and close out the tie in the second set, when noises from the stands began to irritate him.

Mensik sent a forehand long on his second serve, prompting jeers from a small section of spectators in Rome. He remonstrated with those close to the court before returning and taking the game, then walking over to the umpire to complain.

Sky Sports commentator Nick Lester explained that security would be on standby after the incident: “During the break, Mensik was just speaking to the chair umpire and what he was saying is the guys behind him were saying ‘double fault’ as he was throwing the ball up for the second serve. He is clearly not happy.

“The umpire can radio over to someone so I am sure there will be security guards lurking if much more is said, particularly in that sort of scenario.”

Mensik had already overcome home favourite Matteo Gigante in the previous round and the big-hitting teenager was having some difficulty on his serve, with murmurs from behind him not helping at a crucial stage in the match.

Out-of-character service games was the order of the match, with Mensik earlier down 0-40 on his own serve while at 2-2 in the second set, but Marozsan was unable to break.

Mensik, a recent Miami Open champion where he defeated Novak Djokovic in the final, stole the final frame of the first set also as a result of wasteful serving from his Hungarian opponent.

But having been taken to a tiebreak, with a second match point, Mensik served out to win and had a glancing look at the outspoken spectators behind him after claiming victory in 98 minutes.

Mensik will next face either Marcos Giron or Hubert Hurkacz as he continues a breakthrough campaign, stepping up preparations for what would be his first French Open.

Having reached the top 20 for the first time in his career, Mensik reacted to his win and addressed the rowdy fans: “I am not looking at the rankings so I didn’t know before the match or after. It just feels great, I was finding myself in the first match and the first set, in the second set I was feeling a bit better.

“I am glad that the main thing of the match was how I stayed focused, stayed calm, trusting that I will find a way. Fabian is a great champion, he is playing very well, especially here in Rome so I knew it was going to be tough – against the crowd as well today. A couple of fans were cheering so I tried to stay calm and that was the key for today’s match.”