Taylor Fritz was unable to help the USA qualify for the Davis Cup Finals this year.
Fritz was the American number one ahead of Frances Tiafoe, with the USA missing both Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul due to injury.
The former US Open finalist won his opening match against Jakub Mensik, helping the USA lead Czechia 2-1, before Fritz was beaten by Jiri Lehecka.
This meant that the tie would go into a decider, where Mensik beat Tiafoe, who continued his poor Davis Cup record after two more losses.
Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images for ITFAndy Roddick tells Taylor Fritz that he probably should not have revealed his illness
Despite being record 32-time champions, the USA have continued their concerning recent record in the Davis Cup after failing to win the title for 18 years now.
There has been a big reaction to the USA being knocked out of the Davis Cup, and now 2007 champion Andy Roddick has weighed in.
Fritz admitted he had been feeling unwell after winning his first match against Mensik, and Roddick has now suggested that he thinks that was a mistake from the world number five.
Roddick also spoke about two absent players, and revealed his hope for Paul in particular not to return to tennis until he is really ready.
“Taylor wasn’t feeling well. He told us after the first match he wasn’t feeling well. Maybe you just don’t say that,” Roddick said on his podcast. “You’re playing Fritz on day two, maybe you know that he’s not feeling well, that can only help.
“Frances is still looking for some form. The what if game never ends when you’re a captain. Should they have played [Brandon] Nakashima or [Alex] Michelsen. It hurts Shelton and Paul are down. But props to Tommy Paul. He has been beat up since Roland Garros and he was still there watching and supporting his teammates.
“Tommy has had a bunch of injuries, if he has to get healthy I would just rip the bandaid off and do it sooner rather than later. I hope he does not play through average health through the finish line this year, that’s when it bleeds into next year, if there are any procedures to be done I hope he does it now.
“It was tough for Frances. The second guessing never ends with Davis Cup. Lehecka is a really good player. Mensik hasn’t played great but they got through. It’s not an easy match, that’s two top 20 guys to get to Malaga [Bologna].”
When is Tommy Paul expected to return to the ATP Tour?
It has been a very disrupted second half to the season for Paul, who has only played four tournaments since Roland Garros.
Paul has been struggling with a foot injury since Wimbledon, and was in a boot cast after the grass court major.
The American number three appeared to be hampered once again at the US Open, and USA Davis Cup captain Bob Bryan revealed that Paul had undergone surgery since then.
Paul has not spoken about this publicly himself and it is unclear as to what the recovery period for this surgery will be.
The 28-year-old has already pulled out of the Laver Cup, but Paul is still scheduled to return to action at the end of this month at the Shanghai Masters.
Paul has also entered the stacked ATP 250 event in Stockholm, suggesting that his 2025 season has not come to an end.