By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, September 12, 2025
Photo credit: Jon Buckle/ROLEX
An ill Taylor Fritz revived the United States back to health.
Battling sickness, Fritz swept Miami Open champion Jakub Mensik 6-4, 6-3, to level the United States with Czechia, 1-1, at the Davis Cup Second Round Qualifying tie staged on hard court at the Delray Beach Tennis Center.
In the night’s opening match, world No. 16 Jiri Lehecka defeated Frances Tiafoe, 6-3, 6-2, to earn the first point of the tie for Czechia.
That put added pressure on Fritz, who did not attend the draw ceremony in an effort to recover for his opener.
“I’m sick. Like, I felt like two of the practices I had in the days leading up kind of didn’t feel right,” Fritz said. “I felt like I was getting so, just exhausted for no reason. I kind of felt like maybe some sickness was coming on.
“Two nights ago, I finished a practice with Frances and I was driving home, and I just started feeling, like, just so, so sick. I was up all night just, like, coughing, sore throat, all that normal stuff. I woke up yesterday morning just, I felt so bad. It was just like yesterday was kind of like that peak day of the sickness where it’s, like, the worst.
I still don’t feel great, but today, where I was at yesterday, like, I’m a lot better today, for sure.”
On a sticky night, a gritty Fritz avenged his Miami Open loss to Mensik in March to keep American hopes of advancing to the Davis Cup Final 8 in Bologna, Italy alive.
“It’s a big, big boost. Going in when I woke up this morning, I didn’t know if Taylor would be available to his team, and obviously I was excited to hear the news that he was turning the corner with his sickness and he was going to be able to go out there and compete,” U.S. captain Bob Bryan said. “So, look, a 1-1 is a good spot for this team.
“You know, we’ve got two experienced players playing doubles tomorrow. Hopefully get us into that lead, and then we can close the door. But 1-1, sleeping on that feels good.”
Action begins Saturday with the all-important doubles rubber, as former world No. 1s Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram are scheduled to take the court for the Americans against the Czech team of Adam Pavlasek and Tomas Machac. Captains may make substitutions to Saturday’s lineups up to one hour prior to match time for the doubles and up to 15 minutes after the previous match for the singles.
Play begins at 2 p.m. E.T. on Saturday with the reverse singles matches scheduled to follow doubles, if necessary. The first team to win three matches will advance to the eight-nation Davis Cup Final 8 that will crown this year’s Davis Cup champion in November in Bologna, Italy.
USA vs. Czechia Match Schedule
Day 1 Results
Jiri Lehecka (CZE) d. Frances Tiafoe (USA), 6-3, 6-2; Scorecard
Taylor Fritz (USA) d. Jakub Mensik (CZE), 6-4, 6-3; Scorecard
Saturday, September 13 (2 p.m. ET)
Austin Krajicek/Rajeev Ram (USA) v. Adam Pavlasek/Tomas Machac (CZE)
Fritz (USA) v. Lehecka (CZE)
Tiafoe (USA) v. Mensik (CZE)
