Shelton loses again in Davis Cup as Czechs defeat US to reach Final 8. Zverev wins for Germany

The Czech Republic beat the United States to reach the Davis Cup Final 8 after U.S. Open finalist Ben Shelton and Learner Tien both lost their singles matches on Saturday.

Jakub Mensik beat Shelton 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 to level the best-of-five series at 2-2 before Jiri Lehecka sent a roaring Prague crowd into raptures by beating Tien 6-3, 7-5 in the deciding singles.

It was a second straight loss for Shelton, a day after he was beaten by Lehecka.

American pair Christian Harrison and Austin Krajicek had made it 2-1 after winning their doubles match over Adam Pavlasek and Patrik Riki 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (8).

Austria made the Final 8 after Jurji Rodionov beat Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 7-6, 6-3 to build an insurmountable 3-1 advantage. Austria also won the doubles match on the outdoor clay in Vienna, a day after it split the opening single matches with Belgium.

Toby Samuel and Wimbledon semifinalist Arthur Fery won their singles matches to put Britain 2-0 up at home to Ecuador.

Zverev wins for Germany

Alexander Zverev gave Germany a 1-0 lead over Croatia by beating Matej Dodig 6-4, 7-6 (3), before Dino Prizmic leveled the series with a 6-4, 6-3 win against Daniel Altmaier.

It was Zverev’s first match since winning the U.S. Open final last weekend against American Ben Shelton. That came after the 29-year-old Zverev won his first Grand Slam title at the French Open in June.

The second-ranked Zverev, who had 15 aces, dominated on the indoor hardcourt in Halle, Germany, with Dodig having no break-point chances.

Doubles and reverse singles are scheduled for Sunday in the best-of-five match series. The winning team advances to the Final 8 in Bologna, Italy, in November.

South Korea makes Davis Cup history for Asia

South Korea earlier became the first Asian nation to reach the Final 8 after clinching its match against India 3-1.

The South Koreans came from a set down in both singles matches on Friday to lead 2-0.

It lost the opening doubles Saturday but Soonwoo Kwan beat Sumit Nagal 6-1, 6-2 in the first reverse singles.

The Final 8 format was introduced in 2022.

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