DELRAY BEACH. Florida. By Gabriel Matteazzi
Taylor Fritz turned what could have been a disaster into a heroic night for Team USA. The top American skipped the Davis Cup draw ceremony the day before, confined to bed with flu-like symptoms — but on September 12, he rose to the occasion at a sold-out Delray Beach Tennis Center.
With the U.S. trailing 0-1 after Frances Tiafoe’s disappointing loss to Jiri Lehecka, Fritz had no margin for error. Showing grit and determination, the Miami resident summoned his best tennis under the lights, defeating 2025 Miami Open champion Jakub Mensik 6-4, 6-3 and avenging his defeat to the Czech earlier this year in Miami Gardens.
Fritz’s victory leveled the Davis Cup tie at 1-1, setting up a decisive weekend. Play resumes September 13 with doubles action at 2 p.m., followed by two possible singles matches that will determine which nation advances.