By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, September 12, 2025Photo credit score: Jon Buckle/ROLEX
An in poor health Taylor Fritz revived america again to well being.
Battling illness, Fritz swept Miami Open champion Jakub Mensik 6-4, 6-3, to stage america with Czechia, 1-1, on the Davis Cup Second Spherical Qualifying tie staged on arduous courtroom on the Delray Seashore Tennis Middle.
Within the evening’s opening match, world No. 16 Jiri Lehecka defeated Frances Tiafoe, 6-3, 6-2, to earn the primary level of the tie for Czechia.
That put added strain on Fritz, who didn’t attend the draw ceremony in an effort to get better for his opener.
“I’m sick. Like, I felt like two of the practices I had within the days main up sort of didn’t really feel proper,” Fritz mentioned. “I felt like I used to be getting so, simply exhausted for no purpose. I sort of felt like perhaps some illness was approaching.
“Two nights in the past, I completed a apply with Frances and I used to be driving house, and I simply began feeling, like, simply so, so sick. I used to be up all evening simply, like, coughing, sore throat, all that ordinary stuff. I awakened yesterday morning simply, I felt so unhealthy. It was identical to yesterday was sort of like that peak day of the illness the place it’s, like, the worst.
I nonetheless don’t really feel nice, however as we speak, the place I used to be at yesterday, like, I’m loads higher as we speak, for certain.”
On a sticky evening, a gritty Fritz avenged his Miami Open loss to Mensik in March to maintain American hopes of advancing to the Davis Cup Last 8 in Bologna, Italy alive.
“It’s a giant, huge increase. Getting into once I awakened this morning, I didn’t know if Taylor can be accessible to his staff, and clearly I used to be excited to listen to the information that he was turning the nook along with his illness and he was going to have the ability to go on the market and compete,” U.S. captain Bob Bryan mentioned. “So, look, a 1-1 is an effective spot for this staff.
“You understand, we’ve obtained two skilled gamers taking part in doubles tomorrow. Hopefully get us into that lead, after which we are able to shut the door. However 1-1, sleeping on that feels good.”
Motion begins Saturday with the all-important doubles rubber, as former world No. 1s Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram are scheduled to take the courtroom for the People towards the Czech staff of Adam Pavlasek and Tomas Machac. Captains might make substitutions to Saturday’s lineups as much as one hour previous to match time for the doubles and as much as quarter-hour after the earlier match for the singles.
Play begins at 2 p.m. E.T. on Saturday with the reverse singles matches scheduled to observe doubles, if needed. The primary staff to win three matches will advance to the eight-nation Davis Cup Last 8 that can crown this 12 months’s Davis Cup champion in November in Bologna, Italy.
USA vs. Czechia Match Schedule
Day 1 Outcomes
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)
