By Field Level Media
Sep 20 (Field Level Media) – The host Czech Republic rallied from a 2-1 deficit and captured both reverse singles matches over the United States to win 3-2 in Round 2 of Davis Cup qualifying play on Saturday in Prague.
The Czech Republic will advance to the quarterfinals, while the United States has been eliminated.
Davis Cup series are being contested worldwide this weekend to determine the seven teams that will join defending champion Italy in the final stage at Bologna, Italy, from Nov. 24-29.
The United States took a 2-1 lead when the doubles duo of Christian Harrison and Austin Krajicek pulled out a third-set tiebreaker to defeat Adam Pavlasek and Patrik Rikl 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (8).
U.S. Open finalist Ben Shelton, who dropped his Friday singles match to Jiri Lehecka, captured the first set over Jakub Mensik. But the world No. 15 rallied to defeat Shelton 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 to knot the match at 2-2.
American Learner Tien, who got his side off to a 1-0 lead on Friday, took on Lehecka in the deciding match. In a match that featured six breaks of serve, Lehecka earned four of the six to defeat Tien 6-3, 7-5 and oust the U.S. squad.
Austria 3, Belgium 1
Jurji Rodionov, ranked No. 142 in the world, upset No. 38 Zizou Bergs, 7-6 (6), 6-3 and propelled Austria over Belgium in Vienna.
The Austrian doubles team of Lucas Mielder and Neil Oberleitner broke a 1-1 tie by edging Sander Gille and Joran Vliegan, 7-6 (5), 7-5.
That set up Rodionov, who had routed Gauthier Onclin, 6-4, 6-1, on Friday. In the first set, he had two break points at 6-5 over Bergs, but the Belgian held to force a tie-breaker. Bergs had a set point at 6-5 in the breaker, but the 27-year old Rodionov won three straight points to capture the set.
Rodionov broke Bergs in all four of his service games in the second set.
South Korea 3, India 1
After India won the doubles, Soonwoo Kwon won his second singles match to lead his squad to victory in Seoul.
Kwon easily got past India’s Sumit Nagal, 6-1, 6-2. The 28-year-old, who did not play internationally from January 2025 to June 2026 due to military service, led off on Friday with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Dhakshineswar Suresh.
India’s doubles duo of N Sriram Balaji and Suresh forced a fourth match with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 triumph over NamJi-sung Nam and Park Ui-sung.
Canada 3, France 1
World No. 5 Felix Auger-Aliassime edged Arthur Rinderknech in three sets to propel Canada to an upset victory over France in Quebec City.
Auger-Aliassime won both his matches in three sets. On Friday, he followed up a stunning win by unheralded countryman Liam Draxl, getting past Quentin Halys, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3.
After France trimmed the deficit to 2-1, the lanky Auger-Aliassime dropped the first set to Rinderknech, but rallied to win, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4. The Canadian ripped 17 aces and won 67 of 86 points (77.9%) of his service points.
France earned its lone point with a doubles win by Benjamin Bonzi and Pierre- Hugues Herbert, who defeated Auger-Aliassime and Duncan Chan, 7-6 (4), 6-3.
Germany 1, Croatia 1
U.S. Open champion Alexander Zverev gave host Germany a 1-0 lead with a 6-4, 7-6 (3) win over Matej Dodig in Halle. Dino Prizmic got Croatia level with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Daniel Altmaier.
Great Britain 2, Ecuador 0
Great Britain swept the first day in singles in London, as Toby Samuel rallied to beat Andy Andrade 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, and Arthur Fery got past Alvaro Guillen Meza 7-5, 6-0.
Spain 2, Chile 0
Daniel Merida and Rafael Jodar opened with singles victories in Santiago. Merida downed Alejandro Tabilo 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, and Jodar dominated Cristian Garin 6-0, 6-2.
(–Field Level Media)
