Daijiworld Media Network - Shanghai
Shanghai, Oct 13: France's Arthur Gea continued his impressive run against top-20 players, defeating Czech Republic's Jakub Mensik in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters here on Tuesday.
The world No. 56 defeated the 15th-ranked Mensik 7-6(4), 6-4 in the round of 16, having earlier knocked out world No. 4 Ben Shelton in the round of 32.
Gea now boasts a 4-1 career record against top-20 opponents and has won 13 of his last 15 tour-level matches.
"I'm really happy about the result. I had a little revenge today, because at the US Open I stopped in this round. I wanted to go far this week, and obviously now it's starting to be good. I hope it's going to continue," Gea said.
The Frenchman outperformed Mensik in the Czech player's traditionally strong area of serving. Known for his powerful serve, Mensik managed six aces, while Gea fired 11 and won 80 per cent of his first-serve points.
Gea showed his fighting spirit in the first-set tie-break, recovering from a 0-3 deficit to win seven of the next eight points and take the set.
He carried the momentum into the second set, securing the only break of the match to take a 3-2 lead. Serving for the match at 5-4, Gea faced a break point at 30-40 but won the next three points to close out the contest in one hour and 37 minutes.
The 21-year-old is competing in his first ATP Masters 1000 event and has already climbed 12 places in the ATP Live Rankings. He is on course to break into the world top 50 on Monday.
Gea won his maiden ATP Tour title in Los Cabos in August and also reached the fourth round of the US Open, where he lost to Botic van de Zandschulp.
He will face either Hubert Hurkacz or Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the quarterfinals.