An unexpected yet heartwarming gesture from Jannik Sinner towards Jakub Mensik has been revealed. The two locked horns in the quarterfinals of the ATP Qatar Open 2026 on Thursday, February 19. They were set to compete in the second match of the night session, which began at 7:30 p.m. local time.
Carlos Alcaraz and Karen Khachanov’s quarterfinal bout opened the night session, and their three-set tussle delayed Sinner and Mensik’s match. They finally began playing well after 10:30 p.m. Fans were treated to three more sets of exciting tennis, with Mensik ultimately coming out on top after battling for over two hours.
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Even when a match finishes in the wee hours of the night, players aren’t exempt from their media duties. Mensik and Sinner still had to show up for their press conferences. This is where the Italian’s camaraderie and sportsmanship comes into the play. By the time they were ready to face the press, it was already past 2:00 a.m.
According to those present on site at the time, Sinner was set to face the press before Mensik. However, the four-time Major champion instead allowed Mensik take his slot since he had to contest his semifinal match the next day. This granted him a few more hours of rest, which he would’ve missed had Sinner stuck to the original schedule.
Mensik was quite touched by the gesture, and offered Sinner a hug. The latter also indulged fans by signing autographs who were still waiting to interact with him late into the night. While the Italian’s Qatar Open campaign didn’t go as per his wishes, he remains confident in his ability to bounce back. He will now spend the next few days preparing for the season’s first Masters 1000 tournament.
Jannik Sinner’s next appearance will be at the Indian Wells Masters 2026
Jannik Sinner will have a few days of respite before he returns to the tour at the Indian Wells Masters 2026. It is the first Masters 1000 tournament of the season on the ATP Tour, and is set to take place from March 3-15.
Sinner has a pretty solid track record at the tournament. He made the fourth round on his debut in 2021, and bowed out at the same stage the following year as well. He progressed to the semifinals for the first time in 2023, and repeated the feat in 2024.
Sinner couldn’t compete in the tournament last year as he was in the middle of serving his three-month suspension. He will arrive at the Indian Wells Masters this year with an eye on capturing his first title of the season.
Edited by Rohit
