U.S. Davis Cup team 'happy to be here' ahead of qualifying home tie against Czechia

Bryan is captaining a team of top talent, led by world No. 5 Fritz, No. 29 Tiafoe, No. 63 Opelka, doubles No. 29 Ram and doubles No. 57 Krajicek. The latter two have both been ranked the ATP world No. 1 in men's doubles, and earned the silver medal in men's doubles as a team at the 2024 Olympics.

The U.S. is the most successful nation in the competition's history, winning the Davis Cup 32 times, most recently claiming the honor in 2007 with a team that included the Bryan brothers, defeating Czechia 4-1 en route to victory.

The Czech team last lifted the Davis Cup in 2012 and 2013 when now-captain Tomas Berdych was playing for his country. This weekend, he leads a team with three Top 25 players: world No. 16 and US Open quarterfinalist Jiri Lehecka, No. 17 Jakub Mensik and No. 22 Tomas Machac, along with doubles world No. 33 Adam Pavlasek and Davis Cup debutant Petr Brunclik.

First up on Friday, Tiafoe faces Lehecka, against whom he owns a 2-0 record, most recently notching a win against the top Czech en route to the final in Cincinnati last year. Fritz and Mensik will take the court next, and are currently tied 1-1 in their head-to-head, with the Czech taking their most recent match en route to the Miami title this spring. The American No. 1 was not present for the draw ceremony, but is expected to play on Friday.

Saturday kicks off with the potentially-decisive doubles rubber. Ram and Krajicek easily moved past Machac and Pavlasek 6-2, 6-2 in the semifinals at last year's Paris Olympics. The fourth rubber will see Fritz go up against US Open quarterfinalist Lehecka, but the American leads their head-to-head 4-0, most recently defeating the Czech in Toronto last month. If neither team has clinched, Tiafoe and Mensik will battle it out in hopes of sending their team to Bologna.

This home tie is especially exciting for Krajicek—this is his 10th time taking the court for Davis Cup, but his first tie on U.S. soil. To bring it full-circle, the Floridian even watched the 2004 tie, cheering on the Bryan brothers when they beat Sweden at the same site. 

"We have played in a lot of crazy places the last couple of years to say the least, but it's an honor to be part of the U.S. team. Any time I have the flag on my shirt, it's a different feeling, 100%. To be back here where I also came and watched as a kid...it's really special," Krajicek said. "We're not taking it for granted. We don't get to play at home very often, so we're extremely excited to be here in Delray."

The fans will give the Americans a special home-court advantage, bringing the energy of New York a few thousand miles south.

"Davis Cup crowds are unlike any crowd. There's more passion, there's more intensity, and the crowd can be an extension of your bench. If you're getting that home support, it's like having another player on the team," Bryan said in a Wednesday press conference.