Shelton ‘outplayed’ in first match since US Open final
US Open finalist Ben Shelton struggled to dominate with his serve and was beaten in straight sets by Jiri Lehecka as the Czech Republic drew level 1-1 with the United States in the last qualifying round for the Davis Cup Final 8.
Lehecka broke Shelton’s serve early in each set on the indoor hard court at Prague’s O2 Arena, eventually going on to win 6-4, 6-4.
Ben Shelton reacts after losing to Jiri Lehecka. Getty Images for World Tennis
“I thought he played a great match. A lot of credit to him. He outplayed me today,” Shelton said.
“He served great, returned great, volleyed well. Played well from the baseline. There were no real holes in his game, and he definitely deserved to win that match.”
Earlier, Learner Tien beat Jakub Mensik 6-2, 6-4 in his Davis Cup debut to give the 32-time champion Americans a 1-0 lead.
Tien had only 15 unforced errors to Mensik’s 34.
Shelton, who is up to a career-high No. 4 in the rankings after his US Open run, dropped to 0-3 for his career in the Davis Cup.
In his only previous action in the competition, he lost both singles and doubles matches with partner Tommy Paul as the US was beaten by Australia in the 2024 quarterfinals.
The winning team advances to the Final 8 in Bologna, Italy, in November.
It was Shelton’s first match since losing to Alexander Zverev in New York in his first Grand Slam final.
Meanwhile, South Korea moved within one victory of becoming the first Asian nation to reach the Final 8 after taking a 2-0 lead over India.
The South Koreans came from a set down in both matches.
Kwon Soon-woo beat Dhakshineswar Suresh 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 and then Hyeon Chung defeated Sumit Nagal 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 at Seoul's Olympic tennis center.
Austria and Belgium were tied 1-1.
The other match-ups of teams competing for spots to join host and three-time defending champion Italy at the finals are: Chile and Spain; Germany and Croatia; Britain and Ecuador; and Canada and France.
Zverev is scheduled to play for Germany, which hosts Croatia in Halle on Saturday and Sunday. Australia will take on Poland this weekend, also.
The Final 8 format was introduced in 2022.
