"We needed this one": Taylor Fritz avenges Miami loss to Jakub Mensik with clutch Davis Cup win

In March, Taylor Fritz lost one of his toughest matches of the 2025 season when he was bested in a decisive tiebreaker by Jakub Mensilk with a trip to the Miami Open final on the line.

Nearly six months later, Fritz seized his awaited shot at revenge 40 miles north at the Delray Beach Tennis Center. Facing a virtual must-win situation for his nation in their Davis Cup Second Round Qualifier with Czechia, the world No. 5 surged past Mensik with a 6-4, 6-3 victory inside a venue where he's previously lifted two ATP trophies.

Jiri Lehecka had earlier dominated Frances Tiafoe, 6-3, 6-2, to seal the opening rubber for the visiting squad.

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Fritz and Mensik exchanged breaks to start the contest, with the American overhitting a routine drive volley to hand back his initial advantage. There wouldn’t be many more moments like that from Fritz’s end of the court, as his timing and point-building grew in confidence to emerge as the locked-in competitor.

At 3-3, Fritz found a way to break from 40-15 down. After being caught late on a forehand, Mensik double-faulted to bring the American to deuce. Though he erased a break point, the world No. 17 eventually dropped serve. Fritz curled a backhand passing shot for a second ad-out point ahead of Mensik’s forehand breaking down again.

Mensik staved off four set points in his next service game, before Fritz comfortably served it out. A brief rain delay followed, as the players exited the court. When play resumed, the momentum stayed with the hosts.

A double fault from Mensik generated an immediate break for Fritz. Continuing to pressure the 20-year-old, Fritz opened a double-break lead after the Czech’s backhand drop shot failed to clear the net.

A peculiar finish then played out. Fritz reached three match points at 5-2, only to watch Mensik claw back and break to stay alive. But then it was Mensik’s turn to blow a 40-0 lead on his serve, wrapping the evening's action with an erratic backhand approach shot into the open court.

“We needed this one. It feels great to come out and deliver for the team,” summed up Fritz in his on-court interview.

Saturday’s action begins with a doubles rubber, followed by reverse singles. The first team to reach three points advances to November’s Davis Cup Final 8 in Bologna as one of seven countries looking to prevent Italy from capturing a third consecutive title.