Jakub Mensik handled Frances Tiafoe in the deciding fifth match to give the Czech Republic a 3-2 victory over the United States on Saturday in their Davis Cup second-round qualifying match in Delray Beach, Fla.
Mensik, ranked No. 17 in the world, won 6-1, 6-4 over Tiafoe, ranked No. 29. Mensik converted four of 11 break-point opportunities, while Tiafoe converted his lone chance. Mensik had the edge in service points won (33 of 45, 73 percent) over Tiafoe (27 of 57, 48 percent).
Earlier on Saturday, the second day of their competition, the American doubles team of Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram won a battle with Czechs Tomas Machac and Mensik, 7-6 (6), 5-7, 6-4.
Jiri Lehecka, the world No. 16 who had downed Tiafoe in two sets on Friday, defeated American Taylor Fritz, the world’s fifth-ranked player, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, setting up Mensik-Tiafoe as the deciding match. Mensik had lost to Fritz in two sets on Friday.
Fourteen teams are competing this week to earn seven spots in the Davis Cup Final 8, scheduled for Nov. 18-23 in Bologna, Italy. Defending champion Italy is automatically in the Final 8 as the host nation.
Each best-of-five series consists of two singles matches on the first day, then a doubles match and the reverse singles matches on the second day.
In other Saturday action, Belgium took a 2-0 lead on the first day against host Australia in Sydney, as Raphael Collignon upset World No. 8 Alex de Minaur 7-5, 3-6, 6-3; and Zizou Bergs beat Jordan Thompson 7-6 (4), 6-4.
Denmark also won the first two matches against host Spain in Marbella. Holger Rune defeated Pablo Carreno Busta 7-5, 6-3; and Elmer Moeller rallied past Jaume Munar 2-6, 6-1, 6-4. Denmark needs one more win to reach the last eight countries in the Davis Cup Final for the first time since 1988.
Four other teams joined the Czech Republic in advancing to the Davis Cup Final. Germany topped Japan 4-0 in Tokyo; Austria edged host Hungary 3-2 in Debrecen; Argentina defeated the Netherlands 3-1 in Groningen; and France eliminated host Croatia 3-1 in Osijek.
–Field Level Media
