JON LEVEY: From an accomplishments standpoint, it’s difficult to imagine any player matching Coco Gauff when it comes to ranking, wins and big titles. Yes, she’s still only 20. But since she’ll turn 21 during the season, and is already firmly established, let’s take “best” to mean biggest leap forward. For that, I’m picking Jakub Mensik.
The ATP’s 2024 Newcomer of the Year won’t sneak up on anybody. The 19 year-old Czech has already cracked the top 50, scalped Top 10 players such as Andrey Rublev and Grigor Dimitrov, and earned a spot in the Nitto Next Gen ATP Finals. Standing 6’4” Mensik possesses ample firepower, but his determination has proven just as impressive.
Exhibit A was this past US Open. After disposing of Félix Auger-Aliassime in the first round in straight sets, Mensik dropped the first two sets to Aussie Tristan Schoolkate in steamy conditions. It would’ve been very easy for the then 18 year-old to call it a tournament. But he battled back, saved a match point in the fourth set, and completed the comeback in a fifth-set tiebreaker. He lost his next match, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort—it also took five sets. No wonder his nickname is the Menimal.
It’s probably still too soon for Mensik to be a consistent Grand Slam threat, but grabbing a Tour title and climbing inside the Top 20 by the end of 2025 are well within his grasp
