After the Americans won an exciting double rubber, the Czech Republic had his back to the wall in Davis Cup qualification on Sunday evening in Delray Beach.
Nevertheless, each of the two reverse singles took the visiting side to beat the United States 3-2 and to secure a place in the eight-team finals in Bologna, Italy this fall. Jiri Lehecka drew his Nature level by making Taylor Fritz 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 upset. That was the scene for a winner-take-all decision-maker, in which Jakub Mensik Frances Tiafoe 6-1, 6-4. Mensik won the first 12 points of the game and really checked it from start to finish, apart from giving back an early break in the second set.
With Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul set aside by injuries, the Americans had no alternatives to a collapse Tiafoe and a sick Fritz. Although Fritz recovered from a few days that they were unable to practice and the weekend started with a win over Mensik on day 1, the world no. 5 did not have enough in the tank to survive a debilitating three-setter against an in-shape Lehecka.
“Hats off for the Czech team,” Team USA assistant Bob Bryan noted. “Tomas Berdych came in this and prepared his team well. It is a tough team on paper, and they played as they can. They touch big services on the breaking points – on the big points – and the earned to win. They will be dangerous in Bologna; that is a team that can win the tournament.”
The Czechs will be with Italy, Spain, Argentina, France, Germany, Belgium and Austria in the Davis Cup Finals.
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