Just five days after playing in the US Open final, Ben Shelton returned to the court on Friday. But the American was unable to earn a different result.
Czechia’s Jiri Lehecka leveled his country’s Davis Cup second-round qualifying tie with the United States with a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Shelton.
“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 really well. Played well from the baseline. There was no real holes in his game today, and he definitely deserved to win that match.”
Earlier in the day, Learner Tien had given the United States the lead with a 6-2, 6-4 win against Jakub Mensik. The United States vs. Czechia is one of seven second-round qualifying ties taking place this weekend, with the winner of each joining defending champion Italy in November's Davis Cup Final 8.
South Korea is on the brink of earning one of those eight spots after edging the first two singles rubbers of its clash with India in Seoul. Soonwoo Kwon defeated Dhakshineswar Suresh 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 before former World No. 19 Hyeon Chung overcame Sumit Nagal 2-6, 6-4, 7-5. In Vienna, Austria and Belgium are level at 1-1: Jurij Rodionov eased past Gauthier Onclin 6-4, 6-1 for the home team, but Zizou Bergs then rallied past Lukas Neumayer 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 to leave the tie evenly poised heading into Saturday.
Rune wins return from injury
Last October, Holger Rune tore his Achilles. The Dane made a successful return to action Friday.
Rune defeated Iliyan Radulov 6-3, 6-3 to level Denmark's World Group I tie with Bulgaria at 1-1 in Copenhagen. Grigor Dimitrov, the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion, rallied past Elmer Moeller 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-4 earlier in the day.
Rune and Dimitrov are scheduled to meet in the fourth match of the tie in a match that would pit two former members of the Top 5 of the PIF ATP Rankings against one another.
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