Spain brushed aside the absence of Carlos Alcaraz to beat the Czech Republic in the Davis Cup quarter-finals and move one step closer to a first title in six years.
A “heartbroken” Alcaraz pulled out of Spain’s squad for the Finals on Tuesday after the new world number one was advised not to compete in Bologna because of swelling in his right hamstring.
Without their talisman, the Spanish team were forced to come from behind against the Czechs after the big-serving Jakub Mensik – with 20 aces – defeated Pablo Carreno Busta 7-5 6-4 in the opening singles rubber.
Jaume Munar, with his first singles win at the Davis Cup, took the tie to the deciding doubles with an impressive 6-3 6-4 victory over US Open quarter-finalist and world number 17 Jiri Lehecka.
Czech captain Tomas Berdych switched Mensik in for the doubles but to no avail as he and Tomas Machac – both singles specialists – fell 7-6 (10-8) 7-6 (10-8) to Marcel Granollers and Pedro Martinez.
The Czechs were left to rue their missed opportunities in a two-hour tussle, having held a 4-1 lead and three set points in the first-set tie-break, while two further set-point chances were missed in the one in the second set.
