- x
ATP Tour
Czechia advances to Davis Cup Final 8 in Bologna
September 14, 2025
Rich Storry/Getty Images for ITF
Czechia celebrates its 3-2 tie victory against the United States Saturday in Delray Beach. By ATP Staff
When Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram triumphed in a tightly contested doubles rubber Saturday in Delray Beach, it seemed the United States was in control of its Davis Cup Qualifiers Second Round tie against Czechia. But Jiri Lehecka and Jakub Mensik had a plan of their own.
Lehecka upset Taylor Fritz, the No. 5 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, to keep Czechia's hopes alive. Mensik then sealed the tie for his country, 3-2, with a late-night win against Frances Tiafoe.
During a long day in Florida that featured a lengthy lightning delay, Lehecka walked on court at the home of the Delray Beach Open knowing he needed to overcome an 0-4 Lexus ATP Head2Head record against Fritz. The recent US Open quarter-finalist did exactly that, upsetting the American 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
Fritz fought hard against the Czech, whom he beat in a final-set tie-break in Toronto less than two months ago. But Lehecka put consistent pressure on the top-ranked player in the tie, earning 17 break points and converting three of them to level at 2-2.
You May Also Like: Collignon stuns De Minaur, Belgium leads Australia 2-0 in Davis Cup
That allowed Mensik the opportunity to play the hero in the same state where he claimed ATP Masters 1000 glory earlier this year at the Miami Open presented by Itau. The 23-year-old eased past Tiafoe 6-1, 6-4 around the stroke of midnight to send his country to Bologna.
Krajicek and Ram, the Paris Olympics silver medalists, had given the United States a 2-1 advantage with a battling 7-6(6), 5-7, 6-4 victory against Tomas Machac and Mensik.
The countries that have already qualified for the Davis Cup Final 8 are defending champion Italy, Czechia, Argentina, Austria, Germany and France.
