"F**k the ATP & WTA, no morals just greed" - Fans shocked by Next Gen Finals incident after woman refuses handshake with Jakub Mensik

Jakub Mensik found himself at the center of another bizarre moment at the ongoing ATP Next Gen Finals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Czech youngster was previously asked to undergo a mid-match anti-doping test, and just ahead of his final Round Robin match against Joao Fonseca, he was refused a handshake by a woman who was present at the coin toss.

Jakub Mensik and Joao Fonseca locked horns on Friday, December 20. While the Czech had lost both of his Round Robin matches up until this point at the Next Gen Finals, the Brazilian had won both of his, and had already sealed his spot in the semis. As a result, it was a must-win encounter for Mensik.

Ahead of the match, the players came together at the net for the coin toss with chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani. Here, a woman, presumably a guest invited to participate in the coin toss proceedings, could be seen standing and smiling on Mensik's side. Jakub Mensik approached her for a handshake, but she refused it rather awkwardly, with the Czech going on to shake Lahyani's hand.

Awkward byu/bobdougy intennis

In Saudi Arabian culture, handshakes with members of the opposite gender are a rarity. However, several tennis fans on Reddit were stupefied with what they saw. Many of them proceeded to lambast the ATP and the WTA for agreeing separate deals with Saudi Arabia, which have resulted in the country with questionable human rights and women's rights records hosting the ATP Next Gen Finals and the WTA Finals.

Some fans suggested that making money was the ATP and the WTA's sole priority when agreeing deals for Saudi Arabia to host prominent events.

"Disgusting… as a lesbian, it’s such a f**king disgrace they’re holding tournaments where I could be killed. Fuck the ATP and WTA. No f**king humanistic morals.. just greed," opined one fan.

"Don’t let them green wash their blood money with our sport," another urged.

Others took aim at what they perceived as a regressive culture.

"Super weird culture tbh," a fan wrote.

"Yeah people will say it’s just “cultural differences” but I hope we can all agree that men forbidding women from even shaking another man’s hand is extremely sexist and regressive," commented another fan.

"Bro almost got her killed," another chimed in.

"Why was she even there in the first place?" asked one.

Fonseca eventually emerged victorious over Mensik, and continued maintaining his unbeaten streak at the tournament with a dominant semifinal win against Luca Van Assche. The 2024 ATP Next Gen Finals is set to conclude with Fonseca facing Learner Tien for the title.

Joao Fonseca in fine form ahead of ATP Next Gen Finals 2024 title clash

Joao Fonseca (Source: Getty)

Fonseca, in red hot form at the 2024 ATP Next Gen Finals, came out on top against Learner Tien in the second round of Round Robin matches at the year-end event with a convincing 4-0, 4-0, 1-4, 4-2 victory. The Brazilian also got the chance to interact with the legendary Rafael Nadal in Jeddah.

The Brazilian engineered 15 break point opportunities and converted five of them against Tien. Fonseca also won 78% of the points played on his first serve.

Tien himself finished second behind Fonseca in the Blue Group. The American then faced compatriot Alex Michelsen in the semifinals and won 2-4, 4-2, 1-4, 4-0, 4-1.