Before each day’s play at the Miami Open, we’ll preview three must-stream matches, on the Tennis Channel app.
Jakub Mensik vs. Frances Tiafoe
Tiafoe and Mensik have had similar peaks and valleys over the past year. Last July, the American reached a season-high No. 11; a month later, the Czech rose to a career-high No. 16. From there, though, their seasons went south. Wins were hard to come by, and their rankings dropped—all the way to No. 30 in Tiafoe’s case.
What both guys needed, it seemed, was a couple months off and a fresh start. So far in 2026, Tiafoe has gone 13-6, made the final at the 500 in Acapulco, and cracked the Top 20 again. Mensik, meanwhile, is 14-5, with a title in Auckland. He hit a career-high No. 12 this month.
Tiafoe credits new coach Mark Kovacs for toughening up his training
“I got a little bit of a drill sergeant right now in Mark,” he says of Kovacs. “If you have a coach that’s stern and on you, man, you’re like, ‘I’ve got to wake up, and I gotta do it.’”
“It’s starting to come together, and it feels good.”
