Tomas Berdych led the Czech Republic to an impressive win over the United States in the Davis Cup, and he could make more history in the finals at the end of the year.
Jakub Mensik and Jiri Lehecka inspired their country to victory over the 32-time Davis Cup champions, with the men picking up wins against Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe.
The Czech Republic picked up the narrow win away from home, in unsettled weather at a thundery Delray Beach, Florida.
After his nation confirmed their place at the Davis Cup finals, captain Tomas Berdych now has the chance to etch his name in history.
Tomas Berdych could become the fifth star to win the Davis Cup as a player and captain
Berdych has been the Czech Republic’s Davis Cup captain since September 2024, and he now has the chance to become just the fifth man to win the competition as both a player and a captain.
The former World No. 4 won the competition as a player in back-to-back years in 2012 and 2013, defeating Spain and Serbia in the final.
Only four men have won the Davis Cup as a player and a captain, with Neale Fraser, Albert Costa, Norman Brookes, and Arthur Ashe achieving the feat.
The last to do so was Albert Costa, who captured the Davis Cup as a captain in 2011, just 10 years after winning the tournament as a player.
Italy, Germany, France, Austria, and Argentina have also confirmed their place in the finals, which are set to take place in November.
What Tomas Berdych said after leading the Czech Republic to Davis Cup victory
Berdych was delighted with his Czech Republic team in Florida as they broke new ground as a nation in the Davis Cup.
“I think this is definitely the best, you know, the best way how to show them how we prepared, how we took the facility and everything that was waiting us here,” said Berdych.
“That’s the best possible way what we can do, you know. So we won,” he added. “We beat the very strong U.S. team on the home soil, which never happened for our team in the past.”
Berdych may have stopped playing Davis Cup tennis in 2016, but the Czech star is still involved in making history with the nation.
