Davis Cup Qualifiers: Czechia Rallies Past Team USA

Seven teams will book their tickets to this year’s Davis Cup finals, to join defending champion Italy in this Bologna for the eight-team final on November 18 to 23.

Here’s how the seven ties went this weekend… home teams are listed first in all scores.

USA 2–3 Czechia

Jakub Mensik and Jiri Lehecka delivered a rousing comeback for Czechia on Saturday in Delray Beach, as the pair of rising Czechs rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Americans to reach the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna, Italy.

After dropping the doubles, Lehecka took out Taylor Fritz, overcoming a 0-4 record against the world No.5, and Mensik clinched the victory with a 6-1, 6-4 triumph over Frances Tiafoe.

Rajeev, Ram and Austin Krajicek delivered a doubles victory after a significant rain delay to give Team USA the edge on Saturday in Delray Beach, Florida. 

The Americans recorded a 7-6(6), 5-7, 6-4 win over Tomas Machac and Jakub Mensik. 

“It took every person sitting here to get this win,” said Ram. 

“Words can’t describe it,” added Krajicek. 

But momentum slid back in favor of Czechia not long after, as Jiri Lehecka took out Taylor Fritz, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to force a deciding rubber in Delray Beach.

On Friday in Florida, the Czechs and the Americans split two singles matches with Jiri Lehečka defeating Frances Tiafoe in the first rubber while Fritz bounced back to take out Mensik to even things. 

Netherlands 1–3 Argentina

Andreas Molteni and Horacio Zeballos clinched the wind for team Argentina against the Dutch with a 6375 win over Sander Arends and Botic van de Zandschulp. 

A day earlier, Tomas Martin Echeverry and Francisco Cerundolo staked the Argentinian team to a 2-0 lead.

Australia 2–3 Belgium

Raphael Collignon battled through serious cramping issues and eventually upset Alex De Minaur 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 to kickstart a day one sweep for Belgium against Australia in Sydney. Zizou Bergs took out Jordan Thompson in the second match, 7-6(4), 6-4.

Then the rising world No.91 took out Aleksandar Vukic 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3 to send Belgium through to the Davis Cup Finals for the first time since 2018.

The Aussies put forth a brave effort after falling behind 2-0. Rinky Hijikata and Jordan Thompson prevailed 6-7(7), 6-3, 6-4 in the doubles rubber against Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen, before De Minaur bounced back to down Zizou Bergs 6-2, 7-5. 

But it wasn’t enough as Collignon took center stage in the tense decider.

“We always have great players and this is unbelievable I think for a small country like ours,” said Belgian captain Steve Darcis. “We have so many players who love to play Davis Cup. For me this is really amazing. We are still very far. Okay it is 2-0 but the way is very long.”

Hungary 2–3 Austria

Jurij Rodionov raced past Marton Fucsovics 6-2, 6-1 in a deciding rubber to clinch a spot in the finals for Austria.

“It’s a dream,” Rodionov told DavisCup.com. “It was a really good moment to play the best tennis of my life. I am over the moon and thankful fo the whole team. When we started with a 2-0 lead I didn’t want to play. I wanted the doubles players to win and go home but it is what it is. I’m happy that I made the difference. I’m happy that we can go to Bologna.”

Japan 0–4 Germany

three time champion, Germany are on their way back to the finals after blanking Japan.  Jan-Lennard Struff got things started with a three set went over Yoshihito Nishioka and Yannick Hanfmann followed with a straight sets victory over Shintaro Mochizuki

Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz finished off the sweep in doubles action.

Spain 3–2 Denmark

Denmark’s Elmer Moeller came back from a set down to stun Jaume Munar 2-6 6-1 6-4 to double Denmark’s lead against Spain at the Club de Tenis Puente Romano, but the Spaniards had the answer.

A doubles victory by Pedro Martinez and Jaume Munar over August Holmgren and Johannes Ingildsen cracked the door open, and Martinez followed with a win over Holger Rune, 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(3) to force a deciding rubber.

Pablo Carreno Busta defeated Moeller 6-2 6-3 to lock up the improbable comeback for Spain.

Croatia 1–3 France

39th-ranked Corentin Moutet scored two wins on his Davis Cup debut, leading France past Croatia. Moutet’s second victory clinched the tie for the French, as the southpaw took out Marin Cilic, 7-5, 6-4.

“Marin Cilic is a legend of our sport and I’m really happy to have lived this experience,” said Moutet. “It was amazing to go through. I couldn’t have dreamed of a better outcome, but I knew I was capable of doing it.”