Česky
Davis Cup returns to O2 arena after 13 years: Czechia to face star-studded USA for a spot in the finals
The Czech Davis Cup team is returning to the O2 arena after 13 years. On Friday, September 18 and Saturday, September 19, 2026, they will play against the United States in Prague for a place among the eight best teams in the world. The current Czech top team, led by Jiří Lehečka, Jakub Menšík and Tomáš Macháč, will be on the court, against whom the star American team with Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul will face. Fans are waiting for an extraordinary tennis duel and the return of the Czech national team to the venue, which are connected by some of the greatest moments of domestic tennis.
The O2 arena will once again come alive with the atmosphere of the Davis Cup. The Czech team, led by captain Tomáš Berdych, awaits an exceptionally attractive opponent – the United States of America. The game will be played on a hard surface and nothing less than a place in the final tournament of the eight best countries in the world will be at stake.
In addition, the Czechs have very fond memories of the Americans. In 2013, we managed to sensationally defeat them in Florida and would now like to build on this success in front of their home audience.
Davis Cup returns to the O2 arena after 13 years
The Davis Cup returns to the O2 arena after a long thirteen years. The Czech national team last played here in 2013 in six matches against Argentina. At that time, Prague watched another of the great matches of the exceptionally successful Davis Cup generation.
The O2 holds a special place in the history of Czech tennis. Czech national teams have played a number of unforgettable Davis Cup matches here and have never known defeat in this competition. However, the current generation of players knows the atmosphere of a great national team match in the largest Czech arena from stories or television recordings.
“In the O2 arena, we are waiting for a tennis festival that has not been here for a long time. If we look back in history, we have to go back to 2017, when the Laver Cup was played there, but it was not a national competition. In the Davis Cup, the last semi-final was played here against Argentina, which is thirteen years ago. I am glad that the new generation of players has the chance to experience an extraordinary tennis event on the court,” says the captain of the Czech Davis Cup team, Tomáš Berdych.
Current Czech top players in the Davis Cup atmosphere of O2 arena for the first time
The big return of the Davis Cup to Prague will also be exceptional for the Czech players themselves. Jiří Lehečka, Jakub Menšík or Tomáš Macháč have not yet had the opportunity to play for the Czech national team in the stormy atmosphere of O2 arena.
“I have been watching the matches at O2 with great enthusiasm since I was a child, so I am really looking forward to it. We will do everything so that we can also achieve a good result there, defeat the Americans again and continue on a winning streak wave,” says Jiří Lehečka.
Jakub Menšík also has the O2 arena associated primarily with the experience from the stands: “I have the O2 arena associated with the Laver Cup, where I went to watch and cheer.
Tomáš Macháč is also looking forward to the home match: “Playing against America at home is a great feeling, especially in the O2 arena. I believe that we will be able to beat America again.”
Star lineups on both sides of the court
Both captains have already announced their nomination for the September match and fans at the O2 can look forward to exceptionally strong lineups.
The captain of the Czech team Tomáš Berdych nominated Jiří Lehečka, Jakub Menšík, Tomáš Macháč, Vít Kopřiva and Patrik Rikl.
Czech nominations:
- Jiří Lehečka
- Jakub Menšík
- Tomáš Macháč
- Vít Kopřiva
- Patrik Rikl
The Americans will also come to Prague with big names. Captain Bob Bryan‘s nomination includes Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul and Christian Harrison.
USA Nomination:
- Ben Shelton
- Taylor Fritz
- Tommy Paul
- Christian Harrison
The big names in contemporary world tennis can meet on one court in two days, and the September match between the Czech Republic and the USA has all the makings of becoming one of the biggest domestic tennis events in recent years.
Five matches, one promotion goal
The Davis Cup qualification will take place over two days, September 18 and 19, 2026. The program starts on Friday at 15:00 in the O2 arena, and on Saturday at 14:00. Spectators can look forward to a total of five competitive matches.
The winner of the Prague match will earn a spot in the final tournament, where the eight best teams in the world will be competing.
The Czech team has one of the biggest home matches of recent years ahead of them. After thirteen years, they return to a place where they have never lost in Davis Cup. Can they continue this tradition in front of the packed stands of the O2 arena?
