Czech Teen Mensik Stuns Ruud at Australian Open

Czech teenager Jakub Mensik achieved a significant victory by defeating three-time Grand Slam finalist Casper Ruud in the second round of the Australian Open, marking the highest men's seed elimination so far. The 19-year-old exhibited remarkable power and intensity to overcome Ruud with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 win on Margaret Court Arena, advancing to the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time. Ruud, who reached a career-high ranking of number two in 2022, aimed to return to the top five and improve his Grand Slam performance this season; however, this loss has thwarted those ambitions. The match was part of a day that also saw disruptions due to rain and notable performances from other players, including Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Carlos Alcaraz, who all secured victories. The tournament has seen several top seeds, including Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev, and Grigor Dimitrov, being eliminated. Mensik's triumph underscores the rising challenge from the new generation of tennis players.