Delivering bigger blows from the baseline and maintaining the steadier serve, Lehecka scored the first point for the visitors with a comprehensive 6-3, 6-2 victory. For Tiafoe, it marked his sixth loss in seven Davis Cup rubbers spanning five appearances dating back to his 2018 debut.
Both competitors fought off early pressure moments, with Tiafoe erasing a pair of break points in his first service game and Lehecka holding from deuce in consecutive trips to the line.
At 3-4, 40-40, the two engaged in an extended rally that ended with a set-changing misjudgment from the home favorite. Tiafoe assumed his opponent’s forehand up the line was sailing long. Lehecka instead clipped the line to earn break point, where Tiafoe double-faulted for the first time on the night.
