The United States and the Czech Republic start their battle for a place in the Davis Cup Finals on Friday in Delray Beach. Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz fly the flag for the host country in Singles.
Frances Tiafoe (US) vs. Jiri Lehecka (Jun)
Tiafoe and Lehecka go for the third time in their career for the third time on Friday. Both previous encounters have left Tiafoe’s; He prevailed 7-6 (2), 6-4 on the grass courts of Stuttgart in 2023 before he survived a 6-4, 6-7 (10), 7-6 (5) Thriller at the Cincinnati Masters 2024.
As he did in Cincy, the 29th ranking American has again a home field benefit at a open-air court in the United States-this time in Delray Beach. Tiafoe has a lot of fame with this location, after he made five trips to the Delray Beach ATP 250 he won in 2018. The 27-year-old did not enjoy Our open. But he will have his work cut off against Lehecka, who made a run to the quarterfinals in New York before he fell at the final champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Pick: Tiafoe in 3
Taylor Fritz (US) vs. Jakub Mensiesik (Jun)
Fritz is number 5 in the world on the heels of another solid version at the US Open. He dropped one place in the ranking since he had second points to defend, but at least the 27-year-old succeeded in a return trip to the quarters before he fell to the current world no. 4 Novak Djokovic. Fritz is 25-6 in his last 31 games that dates back to the start of the Gras-Court Swing, two with two titles.
Friday marks the third meeting between Fritz and Mensik. Just like in the case of Tiafoe and Lehecka, their most recent confrontation also came to a open -air court in the United States and went to a third set of Tiebreker. Mensik triumphed 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (4) in the Miami Semis before he disturbed Djokovic in the final. Fritz won their first game 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 on the US Open 2023, well before Mensik became the player he is now. Unfortunately for the 20-year-old Czech, he has cooled in a large way since he lifted the trophy in Miami this spring. Fritz has to roll for the home crowd.
Pick: Fritz in 2
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