Commotion in the stands, Mensik fumes: “Throw them out!”

A night to forget for Jakub Mensik at the 2026 U.S. Open: the young Czech tennis player was defeated in five sets by American home-court favorite Learner Tien in the third round of the season’s final Grand Slam.

Throughout the match, Mensik was repeatedly disturbed by some fans shouting from the stands. During the fourth set, the situation came to a head: two men began repeatedly insulting Mensik, who stopped play and turned to the chair umpire, pointing at them and telling him to “kick them out,” amid applause from the crowd.

Security personnel intervened promptly, removing the two fans from the stands. Mensik was ultimately defeated 6-3, 1-6, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-4 by Tien, who advanced to the round of 16 in the tournament.

Alexander Zverev secured an easy victory in another match that night: the German tennis player defeated Chile’s Tabilo in three sets with scores of 6-2, 7-6, 6-2. Once again, there was a spat with a fan in the stands: Zverev responded sharply to a spectator who was trying to give him advice. “I already have a coach, and I pay him handsomely,” the world No. 2 said ironically.

On the Italian front, however, the evening brought good news: Luciano Darderi secured his spot in the round of 16 by defeating Australian Dane Sweeny in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, in less than two and a quarter hours. The Italian-Argentine remains the only Italian still in contention in the men’s draw, following Flavio Cobolli’s elimination at the hands of Belgian Alexander Blockx and Lorenzo Musetti’s exit in the second round, which was due to illness caused by the intense heat in New York.