Learner Tien and Jakub Mensik ended up on opposite sides of the same Davis Cup tie, and both will be rivals again in London this week. In the tie between the U.S. and the Czech Republic, Tien beat Mensik 6-2, 6-4 in the opening singles rubber, but Mensik came back to beat Shelton in the reverse singles. Afterward, Lehecka closed out the decisive fifth match over Tien, sending Czechia through 3-2 and eliminating the Americans.<\/p>\n
Despite the result, both Tien and Mensik moved on to their next commitment at the Laver Cup, with Tien representing Team World and Mensik playing for Team Europe.<\/p>\n
Between the three of them, it\u2019s clear that the packed ATP calendar wasn\u2019t an impossible obstacle. Zverev, Mensik, and Tien all found a way to represent their countries and still show up for the Laver Cup without missing a beat, even as a couple of the sport\u2019s biggest stars decided the double commitment wasn\u2019t worth the risk.<\/p>\n
The Packed ATP Calendar<\/p>\n
Side by side, these players\u2019 decisions offer insight into how pro players are handling the packed ATP season<\/a>, with two prestigious and points-free team events landing in the same short window. Zverev, Mensik, and Tien played both tournaments and let the chips fall where they may. Meanwhile, Shelton bet on his country and lost, and Alcaraz chose the Laver Cup and received some backlash.\u00a0<\/p>\n With no ranking points on the line in either competition, their decisions came down to each player\u2019s tolerance for risk, travel, and rest. In a sport filled with mandatory events that force its stars to play, this fall offered a glimpse into what happens when they actually have a choice of which events to prioritize.<\/p>\n
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