Davis Cup’s two most successful teams dumped out
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Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic in Davis Cup action at Delray Beach in Florida on Sept 13.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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PARIS – The Davis Cup’s two most successful teams failed to reach the Finals after the United States and Australia were upset 3-2.
The Czech Republic stunned the Americans, who are 32-time champions, to advance in Davis Cup second-round qualifiers on Sept 13.
The US-Czech clash at Delray Beach, Florida, came down to a decisive final singles match, with Jakub Mensik defeating Frances Tiafoe 6-1, 6-4.
Mensik won the first 12 points of the match, holding twice in the span for a 3-0 lead on the way to a lopsided first-set victory.
They exchanged breaks to start the second set but Mensik broke again on a backhand cross-court volley winner for a 5-4 lead and held with an ace to send the Czechs to the Davis Cup Finals.
US captain and retired doubles legend Bob Bryan said: “I didn’t think Frances was hitting the ball poorly tonight. He went up against someone who was seeing it very big.
“He had a small window in the first set and he didn’t take it, and against a player that’s playing that well, if you don’t take your opportunities, it can run away from you. But I don’t think Frances is in a bad spot.”
Germany, Argentina, Austria and France also advanced to join defending champions Italy in the eight-team Finals in Bologna in November.
The Americans, who have not lifted the trophy since 2007, split the first two singles with the Czechs on Sept 12.
Paris Olympic silver medallists Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram beat Tomas Machac and Mensik 7-6 (8-6), 5-7, 6-4 in a Sept 13 doubles match.
But fifth-ranked Taylor Fritz, a two-time ATP champion at Delray Beach, was upset by 16th-ranked Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to force a deciding final singles match.
Lehecka, 0-4 previously against Fritz, hit a backhand down-the-line winner to break in the last game for the victory.
Said Fritz: “I’m sick. Like, I felt like two of the practices I had in the days leading up kind of didn’t feel right. I was getting so, just exhausted for no reason. I kind of felt like maybe some sickness was coming on.”
2024 semi-finalists Germany beat Japan 4-0 in Tokyo, with Argentina downing the Netherlands 3-1 in Groningen.
“Right now, the locker room is dancing and singing. We’re looking forward to Bologna and hopefully we’re getting one step further,” Germany captain Michael Kohlmann said.
Austria also qualified with a 3-2 win over Hungary.
France secured their place in the final 8 as Corentin Moutet beat Marin Cilic, securing a 3-1 victory over Croatia in Osijek.
In Australia’s Ken Rosewall Arena, the home team’s Alex de Minaur, who reached the US Open quarter-finals earlier in September, lost to Belgium’s Raphael Collignon 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 in Sydney, and Zizou Bergs fought through cramps to beat Jordan Thompson in straight sets to consolidate the visitors’ 2-0 lead.
“When you play for your country, there is no pain,” Collignon said.
But the Australians, 28-time champions and 2024 semi-finalists, fought back on Sept 14, with Thompson and Rinky Hijikata beating Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen 6-7 (7-9), 6-3, 6-4. De Minaur then recovered from his upset loss to level proceedings by beating Bergs 6-2, 7-5.
But Collignon proved the hero, beating Aleksandar Vukic 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-3 to seal the 3-2 win. AFP, REUTERS
