Jakub Mensik is starting 2026 with a statement. The 20-year-old Czech captured the second title of his young career on Saturday, taking down a red-hot Sebastian Baez 6-3, 7-6(7) in the ASB Classic final.
And it wasn’t just the win-it was how he earned it. Down 6-3 in the second-set tiebreak, Mensik dug deep, reeling off five straight points to clinch the match in just under an hour and a half.
“I’m super happy for the win,” Mensik said afterward, reflecting on what’s been a strong start to the season. “After all the preseason work, coming in with energy but not quite in rhythm, I showed the performance I wanted.”
If this is how Mensik looks shaking off rust, the rest of the tour should take notice. This isn’t his first taste of the spotlight either-his breakthrough moment came in Miami last year, where he stunned Novak Djokovic in the Masters 1000 final to claim his maiden title. Now, with a second trophy in hand, he’s proving that win was no fluke.
Baez, for his part, came into the final undefeated on the season at 7-0. He’d been one of the most in-form players to start the year, but Mensik’s power and poise under pressure proved too much in the end. Still, Baez’s early-season form suggests he's a name to watch as the tour shifts to Melbourne.
Meanwhile, over in Adelaide, Tomas Machac added his name to the winners' list with a gritty 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-2 victory over Ugo Humbert. Like Mensik, Machac now owns two ATP titles, and this one came with a bit of extra meaning. After battling through injuries, the 25-year-old Czech showed he’s back to playing high-level tennis-and maybe even better than before.
“I kept the focus in the third set and kept the level of my tennis very high,” Machac said. “I started to play more aggressively and served well. I am very glad that after my injuries I can be in this moment with the trophy.”
The match itself was a test of endurance and composure. After dropping a tight second-set tiebreak, Machac regrouped quickly, taking control in the decider with confident shot-making and well-timed aggression. Humbert, who now holds a 7-4 record in ATP finals, couldn’t match that final push.
Now, both Machac and Humbert turn their attention to the Australian Open-and the draw didn’t do them any favors. Machac opens against Grigor Dimitrov, while Humbert faces off with Ben Shelton. Two tough matchups right out of the gate, but both players are coming in with momentum and confidence.
Mensik, Machac, Baez, Humbert-each of them has shown flashes of something bigger in the early going this season. Whether it’s resilience under pressure, a return from injury, or a string of dominant wins, the ATP’s next wave is already making noise. And with the Australian Open just around the corner, the timing couldn’t be better.