Jakub Mensik clinched Czechia’s victory over Norway at the United Cup on Monday, when he defeated Casper Ruud 7-5, 7-6(6).
Making his United Cup debut and playing his first match of the season, Mensik’s win followed Barbora Krejcikova’s victory over Malene Helgo, giving Czechia a 2-0 win in the Group D tie and eliminating Norway, which fell to 0-2 this week.
Mensik, 20, is the second-youngest man to record a singles win in United Cup history, behind 18-year-old Stefanos Sakellaridis in 2023.
Mensik held his nerve late in both sets, earning a crucial break at 5-5 in the opener before serving for a one-set advantage. Mensik later rebounded after failing to serve out the match at 5-4 in the second set.
He trailed 3/5 in the second-set tie-break but won five of the following six points to survive. The winner of last year’s ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami, Mensik, crushed a forehand pass cross-court when facing a set point at 5/6 in the second-set tie-break, according to ATP.
Earlier, two-time major singles champion Krejcikova made a winning United Cup debut, defeating Norway’s Helgo 6-4, 6-3.
The former World No. 2 enters the 2026 WTA Tour season ranked No. 65 in the WTA Rankings after another injury setback at the end of 2025.
She reached the quarter-finals of the US Open in September, a watershed moment in her season, which had only begun in May after a recurring back injury.
Hurkacz stuns Zverev in comeback clash as Poland beat Germany
Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz returned from a near seven-month injury layoff to stun German world number three Alexander Zverev 6-3 6-4 in the United Cup on Monday, before Iga Swiatek beat Eva Lys 3-6 6-3 6-4 to secure the Group F tie in Poland’s favour.
Former Wimbledon semi-finalist Hurkacz had surgery for a right knee injury in July, shortly after withdrawing from the Grand Slam’s 2025 edition.
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The 28-year-old was nearly flawless in his comeback contest, landing 21 aces and committing no double faults as he beat three-time Grand Slam finalist Zverev in an hour and 23 minutes in Sydney.
Six-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek held her nerve and fought back from a set down to beat Lys in the women’s singles clash and seal the tie 2-0.
Poland will play Netherlands in their last group match on Wednesday.