Alex Michelsen gave the US a 2-0 lead over Taiwan in his Davis Cup debut Friday, whereas Jacob Fearnley additionally impressed in his first look within the competitors to tug Britain stage with Japan.
One other participant making his Davis Cup debut, Marcos Giron, had put the U.S. forward by beating Chun-Hsin Tseng 6-2, 6-2 within the first rubber earlier than Michelsen additionally accomplished a straight-sets victory within the first-round qualifier.
Michelsen, coming off a fourth-round look on the Australian Open, defeated Tung-lin Wu 7-6 (4), 6-3 to offer the U.S. a commanding lead in Tapei Metropolis, the place play continues Saturday.
“I had a very good little bit of relaxation between my final match within the Australian Open and at the moment’s match,” Michelsen mentioned. “I had a very good quantity of preparation, I had an important preparation week, doing all the proper issues.
“I felt the courtroom pace was slower than in Australia, simply because it was tremendous scorching down there, and inside right here it’s extremely chilly, very air-conditioned, which is superb.”
The doubles staff of Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram can safe the People a spot within the second spherical Saturday.
Yoshihito Nishioka put Japan forward towards Britain, defeating Billy Harris 7-5, 6-1 earlier than the 23-year-old Fearnley, who reached the third spherical of the Australian Open, beat former US Open finalist Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-3.
“I knew I needed to play rather well, understanding how good a participant Kei is and the way good he is been on the tour for thus a few years,” Fearnley mentioned. “I knew I needed to play an ideal match on serve and do as a lot as I might to make balls within the courtroom and by chance I had a kind of days at the moment.”
Australia holds a 2-0 lead over Sweden with Alex De Minaur beating Mikael Ymer 7-5, 6-1, and Aleksandar Vukic defeating Leo Borg 6-4, 6-4 in Stockholm.
The primary spherical options 26 groups competing for a spot in September’s second spherical of qualifiers. The ultimate eight groups will meet in November in Italy.
Argentina will face the Netherlands, final yr’s Davis Cup runner-up, within the second spherical after defeating Norway 3-2. Casper Ruud beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 6-3 to attract the Norwegians stage earlier than Mariano Navone overcame Nicolai Budkov Kjaer 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to seal Argentina’s win.
Reuters contributed to this report.