Photo credit: Davis Cup Facebook
Playing without its top guns, Spain showed fire and desire to return to the Davis Cup semifinals.
Spain’s Jaume Munar stopped Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-4 to level today’s Davis Cup quarterfinal with Czechia.
Marcel Granollers and Pedro Martinez were heroic closers edging Tomas Machac and Jakub Mensik 7-6(8), 7-6(8) lifting Spain to a thrilling 2-1 triumph over Czechia in Bologna.
Granollers and Martinez saved three set points in the first-set tiebreaker then denied two more set points in the second set tiebreaker in a spirited comeback sending Spain into its first Davis Cup semifinal since 2019.
A quality doubles decider ended on a Mensik double fault after two hours, three minutes of pulsating play.
Spain will play the winner of today’s quarterfinal between Argentina and Germany in Saturday’s semifinals. The winner of that Saturday semifinal will play either two-time defending-champion Italy or Belgium in the Davis Cup final on Sunday.
Opening this quarterfinal clash with confidence, an imposing Mensik threw down 20 aces defeating veteran Pablo Carreno Busta 7-5, 6-4.
Miami Open champion Mensik saved two break points holding for 4-3. Mensik navigated a tough deuce hold edging ahead 6-5 then converted his third set point breaking Carreno Busta for a one-set lead.
Serving at 4-5 in the second set, Carreno Busta felt the pressure as Mensik delivered some deep strikes breaking to close a 99-minute win and stake Czechia to a 1-0 lead.
The subplot of this tie was Spain playing without its top two-ranked players.
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz withdrew on Monday after a scan showed edema in the right leg injury he suffered losing the ATP Finals title match in Turin to Jannik Sinner on Sunday.
Spanish No. 2 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina was bypassed by Captain David Ferrer, who was reportedly upset Davidovich Fokina was a late withdrawal from an earlier tie.
That meant pressure shifted directly on Jaume Munar’s shoulders.
World No. 36 Munar delivered, defeating 17th-ranked Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-4.
The 28-year-old Munar saved both break points he faced earning his first career Davis Cup singles victory at the most important time.
Lehecka double faulted away the break and a 4-2 first-set lead to the Spaniard. A streaking Munar reeled off eight of the next nine points played on his serve to build a one-set lead.
Munar broke at 30 to start the second set and backed up the break for a 2-0 second-set lead.
Battling back from 15-40 down in the sixth game, Munar stood tall saving both break points to hold for 4-2.
As he did in the first set, Munar won eight of his last nine service points closing a one hour, 22-minute win to level the tie and set up the dramatic and decisive doubles duel.