No Alcaraz, no problem: Spain surge through nervy doubles to claim Davis Cup Finals semi-final spot

David Ferrer's Spain side had the odds firmly stacked against them as Jakub Mensik beat Pablo Carreno Busta 7-5, 6-4 in the opening singles of the day at the 2025 Davis Cup Finals as Czech Republic aimed to steal a march but it was Marcel Granollers and Pedro Martinez who surged through stunningly.

Granollers and Martinez completed an enthralling 7-6(8), 7-6(8) win at the Davis Cup Finals against Mensik and Tomas Machac to complete the comeback. It is not the first time that Spain whether with Alcaraz or not have been on the brink of defeat. They nearly didn't claim their spot in the Finals at all. They were 2-0 down to Denmark in Marbella earlier this year but even without their talisman, it is a sign of sheer resilience that they adapt and overcome.

It all started on Thursday with Jakub Mensik who was utterly fantastic in beating Carreno Busta who was the late replacement alongside Alcaraz perhaps for a team that at their strongest would feature both Alcaraz and ADF - the latter snub and in reality has been needed this week.

The 20-year-old Czech ace fell down a break in the opening set but his resulting retort was to go from a break down at 3-4 by taking the set 7-5, he has been ranked as high as World No.16 this year and despite injury travails it can be seen why.

In the second set, Mensik did not allow him a single break opportunity as he ripped a forehand winner to seal the win. Starting at 10am, it was an early start for Mensik but he was buoyed by the crowd and would've thought he had the minerals to bring Czech Republic through.

“I don't remember the last time I played that early”, he said. “But the energy and the atmosphere of the crowd and of the Davis Cup gave me really good energy. Even in the first set when he broke me, I knew that I had the opportunities on the return. My serve was pretty strong throughout the whole match. I'm just glad that I kept the energy and the focus.”

Spain's hopes rested on Jaume Munar who had never won a singles match in the Davis Cup but he played with supreme confidence and guile to take down Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-4 as he produced swashbuckling tennis in what was a surprise given the supreme confidence Czech Republic would've had in their line-up.

“I was pretty confident in my tennis”, Munar said. “It doesn't matter who I have in front of me. I've been playing really good indoors this year. I had great confidence in myself and that's the main thing.”

“I’ve been working since Marbella (on nerves). I felt that a little bit in Spain that time, but not today. I focused on my tennis, my goals, my strategy. Nothing else than that.”

Onto Granollers and Martinez, the former doubles no.1 led from the front as Granollers and Martinez weathered early breaks before a dramatic tie-break sent the fans gathered into a frenzy. Machac had put Czech Republic 6-4 up with two set points but these dissipated. Martinez was the difference maker as he made the Czech team pay and gave the Spaniards a set point that they crushed down.

The second set did have see both having to save break points before another tie-break which saw Granollers and Martinez find the answers each time in first serves to fend off set points and a double fault from Mensik handed them the tie.