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Czech Republic 3, United States 2: Mensik Delivers
Jakub Mensik rose to the occasion in Delray Beach, Fla., defeating Frances Tiafoe 6-1, 6-4 to clinch a 3-2 Davis Cup victory for the Czech Republic over the United States.
The 17th-ranked Mensik was nearly flawless, converting four of 11 break points and winning 73 percent of his service points. Tiafoe, ranked No. 29, had only one break chance all match and couldn’t keep pace.
Earlier Matches Set the Stage
The day began with Americans Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram winning a tight doubles contest 7-6 (6), 5-7, 6-4 over Tomas Machac and Mensik.
But Jiri Lehecka — fresh off a Friday win over Tiafoe — gave the Czechs the edge by outlasting World No. 5 Taylor Fritz 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. That set up Mensik’s decisive victory in the fifth and final rubber.
Czech Republic vs. USA Results
| Match | Winner | Score | Loser |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singles (Friday) | Jiri Lehecka | Frances Tiafoe | |
| Singles (Friday) | Taylor Fritz | Jakub Mensik | |
| Doubles (Saturday) | Krajicek / Ram (USA) | 7-6, 5-7, 6-4 | Machac / Mensik (CZE) |
| Singles (Saturday) | Jiri Lehecka | 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 | Taylor Fritz |
| Singles (Saturday) | Jakub Mensik | 6-1, 6-4 | Frances Tiafoe |
The Czech Republic now advances to the Davis Cup Final 8, set for Nov. 18–23 in Bologna, Italy. Defending champion Italy is already qualified as the host.
Belgium and Denmark Take Early Leads
While the Czechs finished off the U.S., other ties began heating up:
- Belgium 2, Australia 0 — Raphael Collignon shocked World No. 8 Alex de Minaur 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, then Zizou Bergs added a 7-6 (4), 6-4 win over Jordan Thompson in Sydney.
- Denmark 2, Spain 0 — Holger Rune topped Pablo Carreno Busta 7-5, 6-3, and Elmer Moeller rallied past Jaume Munar 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 in Marbella. One more win would send Denmark into the Final 8 for the first time since 1988.
Teams Already Through
Four other nations joined the Czech Republic in booking their tickets to Bologna:
- Germany 4, Japan 0 (Tokyo)
- Austria 3, Hungary 2 (Debrecen)
- Argentina 3, Netherlands 1 (Groningen)
- France 3, Croatia 1 (Osijek)
These results tighten the race for the seven available Final 8 spots, with more ties set to conclude over the weekend.
Final Word
From Mensik’s clinching win to Collignon’s upset of de Minaur, the Davis Cup qualifiers showed once again why international team tennis is unpredictable and dramatic. Much like bettors track momentum shifts in NBA odds or NCAA football lines, the Davis Cup brings sudden turns that can flip an entire tie.
For expert insight across global sports, check out Sportshub’s handicappers and daily leaderboard to see who’s calling the winners.
