Monday, 01 June 2026 / Published in Jakub Mensik, Joao Fonseca, Roland Garros

2026 Roland Garros – Fonseca v Mensik 10 Fast Facts

G’day From Paris,

19-year-old Joao Fonseca takes on 20-year-old Jakub Mensik in the Roland Garros quarter-finals tomorrow.

As we look to compare stats, it’s important to note that both Fonseca and Mensik have played 17 sets to the last eight. So the numbers should be fairly even, right? Not always…

Let’s take a look at 10 stats that definitely favor one player over the other.

ACES

Mensik = 36
Fonseca = 21

The most aces Fonseca has hit in a match was 11 against Novak Djokovic. Notably, he finished the match with three aces in a row. At 30-40, he hit a 220 km/h ace out wide. At Deuce, he crused 215 km/h down the T, and on match point, he delivered a 213 km/h ace again down the T to secure the biggest victory of his career.

Mensik has more aces, but Fonseca also knows how to deliver them in the clutch. Fonseca has hit the fastest first serve between them (229 km/h to 222 km/h), but Mesnik’s average first serve speed is considerably higher at 196 km/h to 182 km/h for Fonseca.

2. DOUBLE FAULTS

This is a big deal.

Mensik = 29
Fonseca = 3

Fonseca hardly ever doubles, but Mensik leads the entire tournament with doubles faults with 29. This is something that could definitely come into play on big points, where the pressure builds, and a double fault becomes a real possibility. The quick fix is always to keep the tossing arm up higher and longer, and make sure you hit up through the point of contact with good leg drive. Oh, and keep your head up.

3. 1ST SERVES IN

Mensik = 55%
Fonseca = 71%

This alone could decide this match. Fonseca makes A LOT more first serves, which in turn protects his second serve. Mensik is well below the tournament average of first serves in at 62%, meaning his second serve is going to get a lot of exposure and opportunities to double-fault.

4. 2ND SERVE POINTS WON

Mensik = 45%
Fonseca = 58%

All of those double faults have really knocked down Mensik’s win percentage on second serves. This is always one of the most important match stats to understand winning and losing, and Fonseca comes into this match with a huge advantage here.

5. 1ST SERVE % ON BREAK POINTS

Mensik = 52%
Fonseca = 62%

Getting your first serve in on break point is paramount to not getting broken. Once again, the serve data clearly shows Fonseca has been superior in this area in his run to the quarter-finals.

6. 2ND SERVE POINTS WON ON BREAK POINT

Mensik = 50%
Fonseca = 73%

It’s stunning how Fonseca holds the cards on almost all serve stats vs. Mensik. Mensik can only break even with 2nd serve points won on break point, while Fonseca is almost winning three out of every four. Break points will be the “King Makers” in this match.

7. 2ND SERVE PONTS WON WHEN RETURN IN PLAY

Mensik = 43%
Fonseca = 52%

This is a new one. You hit a second serve, and the return comes back into play. Who wins the point now? For Mensik, it was his opponents who won considerably more return points, but Fonseca has been able to craft a slight advantage in this area.

8. RETURN WINNERS

Mensik = 21
Fonseca = 3

Mensik has clubbed 21 return winners to the quarter-finals, while Fonseca is at just three. This is definitely something to look for in this match, as Mensik looks to apply pressure to Fonseca’s second serve.

9. FOREHAND WINNERS

Mensik = 59
Fonseca = 90

Fonseca can be wild with his forehand at times, but he has the firepower to pull the trigger from all over the court and turn a natural or even defensive situation into a forehand winner. It will potentially be the most important shot for Fonseca once again.

10. BASELINE POINTS WON

Mensik = 44%
Fonseca = 50%

This is a huge hole in Mensik’s game, having only won 44% of his baseline points. This is a very low number, which typically means you are not in the second week of the tournament. Fonseca can win this match, winning his typical 50% of baseline points. Mensik won’t win the match, winning only 44%. Something has got to give.

Let’s hope for an outstanding match. I predict Fonseca in four sets.

Best,

Craig

The practice court is clearly broken. Here’s the proof.

Points are "front loaded". By far the majority of the action, and the winning, takes place in THE FIRST 4 SHOTS. The practice court is full of long rallies. Matches are dominated by short rallies. There is a massive disconnect occurring.

We spend too much time grinding, banging balls up and down the middle of the court – that have no real benefit to winning tennis matches.

There are 3 specific rally lengths in tennis. Here is their percentage breakdown of total points.

0-4 Shots = 70%
5-8 Shots = 20%
9+ Shots = 10%

The First 4 Shots is specifically the serve, return, Serve +1 groundstroke and Return +1 groundstroke. Those are normally the shots that get practiced the least, but matter the most to winning tennis matches.

The net is an extremely high percentage place to be!

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AVERAGE WIN %
Baseline = 46%
Net = 66%

Data from ALL Grand Slams provides the facts about approach and volley, and the data is crystal clear – it’s immensely better than staying back at the baseline, grinding for a living.

The baseline is a tough place to create separation. Here's how to do it.

At the 2012 US Open, only 7 men and 14 women had a winning percentage from the baseline. At Wimbledon 2016, Andy Murray won the title only winning 52% of his baseline points - and he is one of the very best at it in the world!

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All 4 Grand Slams

Forcing Errors = 41% Men / 37% Women
Winners = 32% Men / 29% Women
Unforced Errors = 27% Men / 34% Women

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Every recorded match from the 2015 Australian Open - Rd2 to the final.

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Winners rise to the #1 way a point ends (over forced & unforced errors)

- The last shot of the rally is overwhelmingly struck at the net.
- Center Window: the most important part of a doubles court to control.
- Stephen Huss: an in-depth interview on Wimbledon's Centre Court with the 2005 Wimbledon Doubles Champion.

Dou8les Num3ers leaves no stone unturned. Percentage breakdowns of how often the server or receiver hits the last shot highlight the dramatic influence of the serve. The last shot of the rally is significant, and is broken down into the following categories: volleys, overheads, passing shots, lobs and groundstrokes.

When you play a match, you actually play two matches.

When you walk out onto a tennis court, there are two matches that you are about to play. The first is during the point - a part of the match that you have spent a lot of time preparing for on the practice court. But there is a second match, that takes place in the 20 seconds between the points. This is where the mental and emotional aspects of our sport kick in.

Let's face it, there will be adversity in almost every tennis match that you play. The storm clouds are coming. How bug they are, and how long they last for, are up to you.

Between the points is very tennis specific. It provides a roadmap for the 20 seconds between the points, teaching how to handle the adversity that will surely come, and how to build on the successes that will also be present. Your mind is your biggest asset in a match, and Between the Points takes your hand off the self destruct button and stops you beating yourself.

You don't have to be good at everything, but you have got to be good at something.

You can break tennis down into four key elements - serving, returning, rallying and approaching. Each part has specific patterns of play that consistently deliver higher winning percentages than the others. No more guessing. No more opinions. All facets of our sport are covered in this exceptional product, clearly outlining what patterns to gravitate to, and how to best construct the practice court. Data comes primarily from the 2015 Australian Open.

Building Blocks

MEN = 70% errors / 30% winners
WOMEN = 74% errors / 26% winners

Forcing errors is the best way to construct a point.
You can simply break tennis down into primary and secondary patterns of play - and they are all covered here. Primary patterns include serve and return direction, forehands v backhands, and the best way to approach the net. Secondary patterns include drop shots, serve & volley and 1st volley options. If you play tournaments, this product will greatly help you simplify the singles court.

The conversation starts & ends with the Center Window.

The doubles court is like an hourglass. There are two big ends, but a small neck in the middle where all the action happens. Once you learn the power of the Center Window, where you stand to start the point will take on a lot more significance.

Doubles is a lot more about situations, with four people on the court all "dancing" with one another. Learn all the best doubles patterns, broken down for the server, returner, server's partner and the returner's partner.

Doubles Situations

The "J" - the most ideal movement for the returner's partner to attack the net.

The "V" - a better way of understanding where the server's partner should move to.

Volley Targets - there are four main areas to attack. Know which ones are higher percentage. Beach Volleyball - the idea of a "setter" and "spiker" is ideal for the doubles court.

There are certain parts of the court that the ball travels to a lot, and other low percentage areas that you really don't want to cover at all - like the alley! In general, the serving team wants to keep the ball in the middle of the court as much as possible (to help the server's partner), while the returning team benefits from hitting wider and creating more chaos in the point.