By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, August 17, 2026
Photo credit: Matt King/Getty for United Cup
The United States is armed up for its Davis Cup rematch vs. Czechia.
Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul and Christian Harrison have been selected to the U.S. squad that will face host Czechia in the Davis Cup Qualifying Second Round tie set for September 18-19 at the O2 Arena (indoor hard court) in Prague.
Captain Bob Bryan’s team is aiming to avenge a 3-2 loss to Czechia in the 2025 Second Round Qualifier last September in Delray Beach, Florida. Czech power players Jakub Mensik and Jiri Lehecka led the visitors to a gritty win in Delray Beach.
The September Second Round Qualifying rematch tie is a best-of-five match series that will begin with two singles matches on Friday, September 18th, then continue with a doubles match and two more singles matches beginning on Saturday, September 19th. The first nation to win three matches takes the Qualifier and will advance to the eight-nation Davis Cup Final 8 to compete for this year’s championship November 24-29 in Bologna, Italy.
Tennis Channel will carry coverage of the U.S. vs. Czechia tie.
It’s the second straight tie for Paul, who joined forces with sometime practice partner Ethan Quinn, Austin Krajicek and Emilio Nava to lead Team USA through the first round of Qualifying this year with a 4-0 sweep of host Hungary on red clay in February.
Shelton, 23, ranked No. 6 in singles, last week won his second consecutive Canada ATP Masters 1000 title. This would mark his second Davis Cup appearance, after debuting in the 2024 Finals. He was nominated to play last year vs. Czechia but had to withdraw due to injury.
Fritz, 28, ranked No. 9 in singles, recently won the Washington, D.C., ATP 500 singles title. He’s played in 11 Davis Cup ties for the U.S. since debuting in 2019 and carries an 8-4 singles record. Fritz went 1-1 in singles in the tie vs. Czechia last year while battling an illness.
Paul, 29, ranked No. 24 in singles, has played in 11 ties for the U.S. since debuting in 2020, carrying a 6-3 singles record. He was also set to play in the tie vs. Czechia last year but was also forced to withdraw due to injury.
Harrison, 32, is the top-ranked American man in doubles at No. 12. He made his Davis Cup debut this February in the Qualifying tie vs. Hungary – a week after winning the Australian Open men’s doubles title – and clinched victory for the Americans with Austin Krajicek.
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