Czech tennis players Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik secured their first Grand Slam title as a team on Wednesday, defeating Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic and Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in the US Open mixed doubles final. The pair claimed the victory with a 6-3, 1-6, 10-6 scoreline at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The Czech duo established an early advantage, with Mensik utilizing his powerful serve to secure the opening set in under 30 minutes by hitting an ace past Bencic on set point. However, Bencic and Cobolli responded in the second set, with Bencic executing a return winner to secure a 3-1 lead. The Swiss player later leveled the match when a forehand shot clipped the net cord and landed beyond Muchova’s reach.
In the decisive 10-point match tiebreak, Mensik’s aggressive net play and consistent serving allowed the Czech pair to regain momentum. The 20-year-old Mensik opened an 8-4 lead with a firm volley, and Muchova followed with a strong serve to set up championship points. Mensik ultimately clinched the trophy with another ace, marking a successful conclusion to their run, which included saving two match points in their semifinal against Russians Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev.
During the trophy ceremony, Muchova jokingly credited their success to their coordinated attire, stating, “I think in the end the matching outfits made the difference for us.” She expressed surprise at their victory, noting that they entered the tournament simply to have fun. “I think this is a really good start to the US Open for all of us,” she added after offering congratulations to their opponents.
This year marks the second iteration of the tournament’s revamped 16-team mixed doubles format, which is designed to attract larger audiences during the week preceding the main singles draw. The event featured several high-profile pairings, including Novak Djokovic with Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz alongside Serena Williams. The report also notes that in the deciding 10-point match tiebreak, Mensik’s big serve and sharp work at the net helped the Czechs seize control.
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