ZHUHAI, China (AP) — Brandon Nakashima and Reilly Opelka won their singles matches Wednesday to give the United States an unassailable 2-0 lead over Chile in the group stage of the Davis Cup Finals at Zhuhai, China.
Nakashima beat Alejandro Tabilo 7-6 (5), 2-6, 7-6 (3) after Reilly Opelka defeated Cristian Garin 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (3) to give the Americans an early lead following the 2 hour, 26-minute opener. The two singles matches lasted in excess of five hours, and there was a doubles match still to be played.
Four groups are playing in four cities this week to qualify for the Final 8 knockout stage to be held in Malaga, Spain, in November. The top two countries in each four-team group will advance.
The U.S., which has a leading 32 Davis Cup titles — its most recent in 2007 was over Russia — is bidding to reach the quarterfinals for the second time since the Davis Cup Finals were introduced in 2019. In the qualifiers this year, the Americans defeated Ukraine 4-0 on neutral ground in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Later Wednesday at Bologna, host Italy was scheduled to play Brazil in Group A. At Valencia, Spain was set to play Czech Republic in Group B and, in Group D at Manchester, England, Britain was scheduled to play Finland.
In opening play on Tuesday, Belgium beat the Netherlands 2-1, Australia defeated France 2-1, Germany, playing without No. 2-ranked Alexander Zverev, beat Slovakia 3-0 and Canada defeated Argentina 2-1.
Italy won the 2023 title, beating Australia in the final.
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