The Spanish team could face the DTB selection led by national coach Michael Kohlmann in the semifinals.
No Carlos Alcaraz, no problem: Spain’s tennis team fought its way into the Davis Cup semifinals even without its top star. The Iberians prevailed 2-1 against Czechia in a thriller in the final round of the traditional national tournament on Thursday—and could now face Alexander Zverev’s German team in the round of the last four.
Jakub Mensik, ranked 19th in the world and winner of the ATP Masters in Miami in March, initially put the Czechs ahead with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Pablo Carreno-Busta. Then Spain’s Jaume Munar brought the excitement back with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Jiri Lehecka. In the decisive doubles match, Marcel Granollers and Pedro Martinez defeated the Czech duo Mensik/Tomas Machac 7-6 (10-8), 7-6 (10-8) with strong nerves, leading the six-time Davis Cup champions to their first semifinal since winning the title in 2019. World number one Alcaraz had withdrawn from the tournament at short notice due to injury.
This means that the Spaniards will face Germany or Argentina in the semifinals on Saturday (12:00 p.m.), who will face each other in the evening (5:00 p.m./Tennis Channel and tennis.de). The DTB team led by national coach Michael Kohlmann is chasing its first Davis Cup title since 1993.
