Match Report
Tiafoe saves 2 MPs, wins Miami thriller against Mensik
Atmane upsets Auger-Aliassime in Miami
March 23, 2026
ATP Tour
Frances Tiafoe defeats Jakub Mensik 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(11) on Monday in Miami.
By ATP Staff
Frances Tiafoe overcame defending champion Jakub Mensik in a thrilling finale at the Miami Open presented by Itau on Monday, when he saved two match points and then converted on his seventh opportunity to earn a dramatic 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(11) win.
Tiafoe squandered three match points from 6/3 in the third-set tie-break, followed by three more missed opportunities. The American then faced defeat himself, saving match points at 7/8 and 9/10 before sealing victory after two hours and 51 minutes.
After toppling the defending champion, Tiafoe celebrated in style, tearing off his shirt and soaking in the energy of the packed crowd. The win also marked a major milestone, his 250th tour-level victory, making him just the second active American, alongside Taylor Fritz, to reach that mark.
“I am pretty pumped,” Tiafoe said. “I have put in a lot of work to win matches like these, to get myself to be able to hang tough and be tough and to play great tennis three hours in. I was hurting, he was hurting, a day match is never easy. I am super happy with the match. It is one of those even if you go down, it was a great battle.”
Mensik defeated Novak Djokovic in the final in Florida 12 months ago to clinch his maiden tour-level trophy. The 20-year-old moved past Adam Walton in his opener this fortnight but could not find a way past Tiafoe, who levelled the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series at 1-1.
Tiafoe, 28, is into the fourth round in Miami for the fifth time and first since 2022. The No. 20 player in the PIF ATP Rankings will next play Terence Atmane after the Frenchman upset Top 10 star Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.
Atmane’s victory against the Canadian was his third against a Top 10 player. Last year, the 24-year-old beat Taylor Fritz and Holger Rune en route the semi-finals at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati.