Taylor Fritz is in danger of coming under real criticism after his latest decision and America’s defeat

Taylor Fritz will return to a tennis court very shortly as he prepares to represent Team World at the 2026 Laver Cup.

Fritz last played at the US Open , where he suffered a disappointing third round exit against Francisco Cerundolo. He was the ninth seed at the Grand Slam in New York, where Fritz was expected to enjoy a lengthy stay.

It wasn't meant to be, but the home fans were delighted to see his fellow American ATP star Ben Shelton reach the final. However, Shelton lost to Alexander Zverev in his maiden Grand Slam final, ensuring the American men's major title drought will continue into at least 2027. Andy Roddick remains the last American men's Grand Slam champion, having lifted the US Open trophy all the way back in 2003.

There has since been further disappointment for the nation since New York this year, with the USA failing to qualify for the Davis Cup Finals , shocking followers of the team and indeed of the event. Shelton lost his first match since the US Open final , with his nation ultimately falling 3-2 to Czechia.

Notably, there was no appearance from Fritz, who decided to withdraw from the side, alongside Tommy Paul. But Fritz will soon head to London to play in the Laver Cup , which is a scheduling decision that certainly leaves the world number 10 open to criticism, especially after the USA's painful Davis Cup defeat.

Taylor Fritz in danger of criticism after USA's Davis Cup exit

The USA could certainly have done with Fritz against Czechia, who were both playing on home soil and boasted ATP stars such as Jiri Lehecka and Jakub Mensik. The visitors also had a strong side containing Shelton and Learner Tien, but the record 32-time Davis Cup champions fell short.

And Shelton's appearance undoubtedly makes Fritz's absence look much worse, with the former heading straight to Prague after reaching the US Open final, demonstrating fantastic commitment and indeed energy to represent his nation. Moving in the complete opposite direction of Fritz, Shelton has since decided to withdraw from the Laver Cup, having prioritised the Davis Cup qualifiers. He was joined under captain Bob Bryan by Tien, Martin Damm, Christian Harrison and Austin Krajicek.

Of course, nothing should be taken away from Czechia, who played heroic tennis in front of their own fans to secure a famous win. But it definitely could have been a different story if the big-hitting Fritz had decided to make the journey to Prague to play for the USA. He was under no obligation to do so, but it would have gone down very well with American tennis fans.

Home hero Mensik has since shared his delight at reaching the Davis Cup Finals, posting on his Instagram : "There are moments in sport that stay with you forever. This was one of them. Playing for your country is something you can't really put into words. The pressure feels different, the emotions hit harder, and every single point means a little bit more.

"To stand on that court with this team, hear the crowd behind us and fight for every ball together was something truly special. We left everything out there and created a weekend I'll never forget. Thank you to everyone who filled the arena, supported us from the first point until the last and made us feel your energy. This one was for all of us! Bologna [soon]."

Mensik battled past Shelton after two hours and 11 minutes, with his compatriot Lehecka completing the win by defeating Tien. Earlier in the tie, Tien beat Mensik and Lehecka beat Shelton, while Harrison and Krajicek won their doubles tie with Adam Pavlasek and Patrik Rikl.