Taylor Fritz came up big for the United States with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Czechia’s Jakub Mensik in Davis Cup qualifying action on Friday night in Delray Beach. Fritz failed to serve out the match from 40-0 up at 5-2 in the second set, but he broke Mensik in the next game to clinch victory.
The world No. 5 struck nine aces and broke his opponent a whopping five times in two relatively quick sets.
“It’s great playing for Team USA,” said Fritz, a two-time ATP Delray Beach champion. “The crowd tonight was great in Delray; I love being in Delray, obviously. We needed this one, so it feels great to come out and deliver for the team.”
It was pretty a much an essential victory for the host nation, whose backs were against the wall after Frances Tiafoe lost the opening rubber against Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-2.
Doubles and reverse singles will be played on Saturday, starting with Americans Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram facing the Czech duo of Tomas Machac and Adam Pavlasek.
Singles is scheduled to be Fritz vs. Lehecka and Tiafoe vs. Mensik, although it would no surprise if Machac is subbed in for Mensik.
nice one, Fritz