Czech Republic will compete at the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna in October. The Czech squad scored a notable victory over the most successful team of the competition, the USA, from 1-2 in Delray Beach.
Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram prevailed over Tomas Machac and Jakub Mensik 7-6, 5-7, 6-4 to send the home nation 2-1 in front. Taylor Fritz and Jiri Lehecka met in the fourth rubber, and the Czech prevailed 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
The match lasted two and a half hours, and world no. 16 claimed four points more than the top-ranked American player. Jiridenied six of eight break points and generated 17 opportunities on the return,
He seized three to emerge at the top and level the overall score at 2-2. Lehecka grabbed a break in the third game of the opener and denied a break point at 5-4 to bring the opener home.
Fritz secured an early break in the second set and defended seven break chances in three straight games to clinch it 6-3 and introduce a decider. The third set started with back-to-back breaks.
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Jiri saved a break point in games three and five to remain on the positive side. The Czech claimed a break at 15 at 5-4 to emerge at the top and keep his country alive.
Jakub Mensik and Frances Tiafoe battled in the decisive rubber. The young Czech provided a rock-solid 6-1, 6-4 victory in just over 70 minutes to propel his country through.
Mensik dominated with his first serve and got broken once from the only break chance offered to his opponent. Tiafoe dropped over half of the points in his games and lost serve four times from 12 chances presented to his rival.
Jakub played flawless tennis in the first set, serving well and keeping the pressure on the other side. The Czech secured breaks in games two and six and held at 30 at 5-1 to move closer to the finish line.
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They traded early breaks in the second set. Mensik served well in the remaining games and clinched a break at 4-4 with a crafty drop shot at the net. The Czech fired an ace in the tenth game to seal the deal for his country and propel them to Bologna.
