In a stunning twist at the Delray Beach Tennis Center, Czechia’s Davis Cup squad pulled off a remarkable comeback to defeat the United States 3-2, securing their ticket to the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna. The weekend’s drama unfolded before a raucous crowd of 4,334, most decked out in patriotic colors—ironically, red, white, and blue for both nations. The Americans, 32-time champions and hosts, saw their hopes dashed in the final singles rubber as 19-year-old Jakub Mensik delivered a performance for the ages, toppling world No. 29 Frances Tiafoe 6-1, 6-4 to clinch the tie for Czechia on September 14, 2025.
The path to this upset was anything but straightforward. The opening day set the stage for a see-saw battle, with both nations splitting singles matches. Jiří Lehecka, Czechia’s top-ranked player at No. 16, wasted no time making his mark, dispatching Tiafoe in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. Lehecka’s dominance on serve—he didn’t allow a single break point—put the visitors in the driver’s seat early. With the Americans reeling from the pre-tie withdrawals of Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul due to injuries, Tiafoe was pressed into the second singles slot, a tough ask against a surging opponent.
But the U.S. struck back. Taylor Fritz, the world No. 5 and a two-time Delray Beach champion, steadied the ship in the second rubber. Facing off against 2025 Miami Open champion Jakub Mensik, Fritz survived a spirited challenge, prevailing 6-4, 6-3. The American’s grit showed in the stats—he saved three of five break points and capitalized on five of thirteen opportunities against Mensik. With the tie level at 1-1 after day one, anticipation built for what would be a dramatic conclusion.
Day two began with the doubles, and the Americans looked poised to seize control. Veteran doubles stalwarts Rajeev Ram (41) and Austin Krajicek (31), both former world No. 1s and Olympic silver medalists, were called up last-minute after the singles injuries. The Czech captain, Tomas Berdych, countered by slotting Mensik into doubles alongside Tomas Machac, a 2024 Tokyo Olympic gold medalist in mixed doubles. The result? A nail-biting affair that saw momentum swing with every service game.
The Americans edged the first set in a tiebreak, 8-6, after saving a set point. The Czechs roared back to claim the second set 7-5, despite a two-hour rain and lightning delay that forced fans and players to evacuate. When play resumed, the experience of Ram and Krajicek shone through. At 4-4 in the final set, Krajicek’s blistering return winner broke the deadlock, and he confidently served out the match for a 7-6(6), 5-7, 6-4 victory. The crowd erupted, sensing the U.S. was on the brink of advancing. “It took every single person sitting here to get this done,” Ram told the crowd, while Krajicek added, “It’s about as fun as it gets. Crowd behind us on every point. Everyone raised their level.”
With a 2-1 lead, all eyes turned to Taylor Fritz, battling flu-like symptoms but still favored over Lehecka. The Czech, however, was unfazed. In a tense three-setter, Lehecka grabbed the first set with an early break. Fritz, showing his trademark resilience, stormed back in the second, breaking early and fending off four break points to take it 6-3. The decider was a rollercoaster: Fritz broke for an early lead, but Lehecka immediately struck back. The American carved out several break chances but couldn’t convert, and at 4-5, Lehecka pounced, breaking serve to snatch the match 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. The tie was now level at 2-2, setting up a winner-take-all final singles clash.
Enter Jakub Mensik, the 20-year-old Czech sensation, facing a pressure-packed showdown with Frances Tiafoe. Mensik wasted no time, storming out to win the first 12 points of the match and racing to a 3-0 lead. Tiafoe, who had managed just one win in six previous Davis Cup appearances, fought to steady himself, saving three break points in the fourth game. But Mensik’s confidence and power were unshakeable. He dominated the rest of the set, taking it 6-1 in just 26 minutes, conceding only four points on serve.
The second set was more competitive, with both players exchanging early breaks. But at 4-4, Mensik produced a moment of brilliance—a backhand cross-court volley on break point—to seize the initiative. He then served out the match with an ace, sparking wild celebrations among the Czech contingent in the stands. “It was an absolutely insane atmosphere,” Krajicek had said earlier, and Mensik’s composure in the cauldron was proof positive. With the 6-1, 6-4 victory, Czechia sealed their place in the Davis Cup Finals, while the United States—record winners but without a title since 2007—were left to ponder what might have been.
The result capped a weekend of high drama and shifting fortunes. For the Czechs, the win was a testament to their new generation of stars, with three players now ranked in the ATP top 25. They join hosts Italy, plus Argentina, Austria, France, and Germany in the Finals, with just two spots left to be determined between Spain-Denmark and Australia-Belgium. For the Americans, the absence of Shelton and Paul proved costly, and despite heroic efforts from their doubles specialists and Fritz, the margin for error in Davis Cup play remains razor-thin.
Looking ahead, Czechia’s blend of youth and experience marks them as genuine contenders in Bologna. The Americans, meanwhile, will regroup and look to the next opportunity to reclaim their former Davis Cup glory. For now, though, it’s Czechia who celebrate, having delivered one of the weekend’s biggest upsets and sent a clear message to the rest of the tennis world: underestimate this team at your peril.
