Jiří Lehečka sealed a thunderous Davis Cup night in Prague, dragging the Czech Republic past the United States 3–2 and back into the Finals with a nervy, defiant win over teenager Learner Tien.
On paper, it was a straight-sets victory: 6–3, 7–5. On court, it was anything but straightforward.
Lehečka holds his nerve
With the tie locked at 2–2 and the O2 Arena braced for another long evening, Lehečka walked out knowing the script. He had beaten Ben Shelton in two sets the previous day. He had the crowd. He had the experience. Tien, though, had nothing to lose.
The American left-hander struck first. Lehečka fell behind by an early break in the opening set, his timing off, the tension obvious. The home fans grew restless. Then the Czech No. 1 reset, tightened his patterns and began to lean on his forehand. The pressure told. He reeled off games, broke back, and snatched the first set 6–3, swinging the momentum and the noise firmly his way.
Tien refused to fold. In the second set, the 18‑year‑old surged to a 3–0 lead, striking freely and silencing the arena for the first time all weekend. The United States, who had already escaped once earlier in the day, suddenly sensed another escape route.
Lehečka slammed it shut.
He chipped away at the deficit, held serve with authority, and started to bully the rallies again. The Czech turned 0–3 into a charge, dragged Tien into longer exchanges and forced errors at the business end. Serving for the match, Lehečka needed four match points to finish the job, but when the final ball sailed out, the roar from the stands said everything: the Czechs were heading to Bologna.
Afterwards, Lehečka underlined what this competition means. Davis Cup, he stressed, feels different. This was not just about his win, but about the platform his teammate had given him. Without Jakub Menšík’s earlier heroics, there would have been no deciding rubber to play.
Menšík hits back after doubles blow
The day had started on a knife edge at 1–1, and the first swing came from the American doubles team. Christian Harrison and Austin Krajicek dragged the visitors into the lead with a gritty 5–7, 6–3, 7–6 (10–8) victory over Adam Pavlásek and Patrik Rikl.
That match was a gut punch for the hosts. The Czech pair held four match points in a rollercoaster deciding set, only to see the Americans cling on and steal it in the match tiebreak. In Davis Cup, those moments can break a team.
Menšík refused to let that happen.
Facing recent US Open finalist Ben Shelton, the young Czech absorbed a barrage of power and turned the tie on its head with a mature 5–7, 6–4, 6–3 win. Shelton took the first set and threatened to ride away with it, but Menšík stayed with him, tightened his serve, and began to read the left‑hander’s patterns. Once he levelled at a set apiece, the energy in the arena shifted. By the third set, Shelton was chasing; Menšík was dictating.
It was the second year in a row that Menšík and the Czechs had broken American hearts at this stage. Twelve months earlier in Delray Beach, Menšík had delivered the decisive point by beating Frances Tiafoe. Different continent, same outcome: the United States out, the Czechs through.
This time, his win over Shelton lit the fuse for Lehečka’s finale.
Czechs back in the Finals, USA still waiting
The victory sends the Czech Republic into the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna in November, where Italy will attempt to defend their crown and chase a fourth straight title on home soil. The Czechs arrive with a young, fearless core and the confidence that comes from back‑to‑back eliminations of the sport’s most decorated nation.
For the United States, the wait goes on. Owners of a record 32 Davis Cup titles, they have not lifted the trophy since 2007. Two consecutive exits at the hands of the same opponent, both in decisive rubbers, will sting.
Historic first for South Korea, Austria join the party
Elsewhere, history was written in Seoul. South Korea reached the Davis Cup final eight for the first time, beating India 3–1. Kwon Soon‑woo delivered the clinching point with a dominant 6–1, 6–2 victory over Sumit Nagal, a performance that underlined the hosts’ growing confidence on the team stage.
In Vienna, Austria booked their ticket with a 3–1 win over Belgium. Jurij Rodionov handled the pressure of the decisive rubber, edging a tight first‑set tiebreak 7–6 (8–6) before pulling away 6–3 in the second against Zizou Bergs.
All roads now lead to Bologna. Italy chasing a fourth consecutive crown at home. The United States still searching for a way back to the summit. And a resurgent Czech team, fuelled by Lehečka and Menšík, arriving with a habit of winning the ties that leave everyone else shaking.
