America will head into this week’s Davis Cup showdown with Czechia in Prague with a considerably totally different lineup than the one initially introduced.

Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul have withdrawn from the American group, leaving Ben Shelton to steer a new-look U.S. squad into a vital Davis Cup Qualifying tie at Prague’s O2 Area on September 18-19.

The adjustments come solely days after the U.S. Open, the place Shelton made the most important Grand Slam breakthrough of his profession by reaching his first main remaining.

As a substitute of taking an prolonged break following his four-set loss to Alexander Zverev on Sunday, Shelton is headed on to Europe to characterize america.

He will likely be joined by Learner Tien, Martin Damm Jr., Christian Harrison and Austin Krajicek.

Fritz and Paul out

Fritz was initially one of many cornerstones of Captain Bob Bryan’s Davis Cup lineup. The world No. 10 had been chosen after successful the Washington, D.C., ATP 500 earlier this summer season and bringing an 8-4 singles report in Davis Cup play into the tie.

His withdrawal leaves Shelton because the highest-ranked American obtainable.

Paul additionally won’t make the journey. He had beforehand withdrawn from subsequent week’s Laver Cup due to an harm, and his absence from the Czechia tie was subsequently confirmed.

The result’s a dramatic change from the group introduced in August, when Shelton, Fritz, Paul and doubles standout Christian Harrison had been chosen.

Shelton goes straight from New York to Prague

The American story now facilities on Shelton.

The 23-year-old moved to a career-high No. 4 within the ATP rankings following his run to the U.S. Open remaining. He defeated Hubert Hurkacz, Denis Shapovalov, Carlos Alcaraz and Frances Tiafoe throughout his run by means of Flushing Meadows earlier than falling to Zverev within the championship match. (Tennis Now)

Now, simply days later, Shelton faces a very totally different type of problem.

Davis Cup tennis is performed for nation relatively than particular person rating factors, and the strain of a best-of-five group tie may be dramatically totally different from a Grand Slam event.

For Shelton, it should even be solely his second Davis Cup look. His first got here on the 2024 Finals.

Tien will get his Davis Cup debut

One of the crucial intriguing additions is Learner Tien.

The 20-year-old American has loved a breakthrough season and reached the fourth spherical of the U.S. Open, a run that helped propel him to No. 13 on the earth rankings. He’ll make his Davis Cup debut in Prague.

Martin Damm Jr. may even make his Davis Cup debut.

The 6-foot-8 left-hander is ranked No. 104 and brings a giant serve and aggressive sport to the American roster. He pushed Frances Tiafoe to 5 units within the opening spherical of this yr’s U.S. Open.

Czechia has loads of firepower

The Individuals won’t be dealing with an inexperienced Czech group.

Captain Tomas Berdych’s present roster consists of Jiří Lehečka, Jakub Menšík, Vít Kopřiva and doubles specialist Adam Pavlásek. Tomáš Macháč was initially chosen however withdrew and was changed by Pavlásek.

Menšík and Lehečka give the hosts two formidable singles choices on the indoor arduous court docket, whereas Pavlásek and Patrik Rikl present the Czech Republic with established doubles experience.

And there’s historical past between these two international locations.

Czechia defeated america 3-2 in the identical Davis Cup qualifying spherical in 2025, with the Individuals enjoying that tie in Delray Seashore, Florida.

What’s at stake

This isn’t merely one other Davis Cup tie.

The winner will advance to the eight-nation Davis Cup Closing 8, scheduled for November 24-29 in Bologna, Italy.

The format is a best-of-five collection:

● Friday, Sept. 18: Two singles matches

● Saturday, Sept. 19: Doubles adopted by two singles matches

● The primary nation to win three matches advances.

Tennis Channel will carry the tie in america.

A really totally different American group

When the U.S. roster was introduced final month, Fritz and Paul had been anticipated to offer the Individuals with two confirmed singles gamers alongside Shelton.

Now, the accountability falls on Shelton, Tien and Damm — with Harrison and Krajicek obtainable to anchor the doubles.

The timing makes the tie notably intriguing.

Shelton has barely had time to course of the most important event of his profession. Tien is coming off his personal deep Grand Slam run. Damm is making his Davis Cup debut. And Harrison and Krajicek will likely be counted on for doubles expertise.

Throughout the online will likely be a Czech group enjoying at dwelling, in entrance of what must be a passionate Prague crowd, with a spot within the Davis Cup Closing 8 on the road.

For america, the street to Bologna has out of the blue turn into a really totally different journey than the one envisioned when the unique roster was introduced.

And it begins with a participant who, simply 5 days earlier, was enjoying for a U.S. Open championship.