Sept 11 (Askume) – Despite the absence of several top singles players, the United States beat Chile on Wednesday to open the group stage of the Davis Cup finals.
In the Group C opener in Zhuhai, China, Reilly Opelka and Brandon Nakashima both survived long three-set battles to help their teams emerge victorious.
Olympic doubles silver medallists Rajiv Rahm and Austin Krajicek then defeated Matias Soto and Tomas Barrios-Vera to win 3-0 and move level with Germany at the top of the standings.
Captain Bob Bryan couldn’t call on players such as U.S. Open runner-up Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe or Tommy Paul, but his team showed its depth and earned a tough draw.
Opelka, ranked 309 in the world, defeated Christian Garin, ranked 116th, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(3) and Nakajima, ranked 40th in the world, 7-6(5) 2-6, 7-6(3).
Lahm and Krajicek still need three sets in the doubles to give 32-time Davis Cup champions the United States a perfect start as they reach the quarter-finals for the second time since the new format was introduced in 2019.
The four national teams in each group will compete in four different cities: Zhuhai, Bologna, Valencia and Manchester. The top two teams in each group will advance to a final eight-nation knockout tournament to be held in Malaga in November.
Carlos Alcaraz is expected to play for Spain in Group B against the Czech Republic in Valencia on Wednesday, while England face Finland in Group D in Manchester.
The second match of the day will see Group A defending champions Italy take on Brazil in Bologna.
On Tuesday, Australia defeated France in Group B, Germany defeated Slovakia in Group C, Belgium defeated Netherlands in Group A and Canada defeated Argentina in Group D.
