Jakub Mensik was helped into a wheelchair after collapsing onto the court while suffering from cramps following his brutal victory over Mario Navone in a five-set epic at the French Open.
The 20-year-old Czech and 26th seed fell to his back after beating Navone 6-3 2-6 6-4 1-6 7-6 (13-11) in a fifth-set tiebreak, after four hours and 41 minutes in gruelingly hot conditions in Paris.
After struggling physically earlier in the match and requiring a medical timeout for cramp, Mensik was unable to meet Navone at the net following match point and the Argentinian walked round to shake hands while he was still lying on the clay.
Mensik remained flat on his back for several minutes as the physio was called, followed by a paramedic team. Such was the concern for Mensik that a wheelchair was brought out onto court.
The former Miami Open champion, who along with Novak Djokovic is one of only two players to beat world No 1 Jannik Sinner this year, was able to get to his feet and shuffle off the court to applause before then requiring the wheelchair to exit Court 6.
Mensik, who has previously struggled in five-set matches, is set to play eighth seed Alex de Minaur in the third round on Friday. De Minaur was handed a walkover after the withdrawal of Belgium’s Alexander Blockx, due to an ankle injury.
Mensik had two match points at 5-5 in the fifth set, followed by a further six match points in the tiebreak before eventually converting at the ninth opportunity to win the lengthy decider and reach the third round of the French Open for the first time.
