JAKUB MENSIK avoided a default after hurling his racket toward a ballboy at the Miami Open.<br /><br />The 18-year-old was competing in the second round of qualifying against Slovak ace Lukas Klein.<br /><br />Mensik dropped a tight first set to Klein 8-6 in a tiebreak.<br /><br />After watching his serve slapped straight back for a winner at 6-7 in the breaker, the Czech teenager was unable to contain his frustration.<br /><br />As he walked back toward his chair, Mensik launched his racket toward the umpire's chair.<br /><br />The reckless hurl whistled past a ballboy and luckily did not strike anyone, despite leaving the small crowd in shock.<br /><br />Mensik ranked No70 in the world, avoided default, and was able to continue the match with a warning.<br /><br />He went on to lose a similarly tight second set 7-5, thus failing to qualify for the Masters 1000 event - with Klein advancing and drawing Alex Michelsen.<br /><br />Fans online were left shocked by Mensik's behavior.<br /><br />One wrote: "That was pretty scary."<br /><br />While a second asked: "How was this not an automatic default?"<br /><br />A third commented: "I watched yesterday and wasn’t impressed with how he played, and his attitude towards the game."<br /><br />Although a fourth countered: "There’s no default for almost hitting someone. Yeah, he shouldn’t throw it but it’s just a warning for racket abuse here."<br /><br />Another added: "That should be a default regardless."<br /><br />Mensik has so far enjoyed a breakthrough year on the ATP Tour.<br /><br />He qualified for the Australian Open in January before beating Denis Shapovalov in round one, eventually having his run ended by Hubert Hurkacz in five grueling sets.<br /><br />The promising teen then reached the final in Qatar last month, stacking impressive wins against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Andy Murray, Andrey Rublev, and Gael Monfils before falling to Karen Khachanov.
