Alex de Minaur's French Open campaign ended in disappointment as he squandered a one-set lead to lose 0-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 to Czech teenager Jakub Mensik in the third round. The defeat came just a day after world No. 1 Jannik Sinner's shock exit, which had opened up the draw for the remaining contenders.
De Minaur started in blistering form, racing through the first set in just 19 minutes without dropping a game. He won 16 consecutive points as Mensik, who had been taken to hospital in a wheelchair after his marathon second-round win, struggled to keep up. The Australian looked set for a straightforward victory.
However, Mensik transformed after the break, winning the second set with superior power and accuracy. He broke de Minaur early in the third and fourth sets, dominating from the baseline. De Minaur's frustration boiled over when he smashed his racket after losing a key point, earning a code violation.
The Australian's error count soared as Mensik's relentless pressure took its toll. De Minaur managed just six games after the first set, failing to convert any break points in the final three sets. Mensik sealed the win in two hours and 25 minutes with a fierce inside-out forehand.
De Minaur's exit leaves Daria Kasatkina as the only Australian remaining in the singles draws. She faces a daunting task against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round.
