United States opens Davis Cup group stage with win over Chile

ZHUHAI, China — The United States opened the Davis Cup group stage by winning three straight matches on decisive tiebreakers to secure a 3-0 victory over Chile on Wednesday in Zhuhai, China.

Brandon Nakashima defeated 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 insurmountable 2-0 lead.

Those two singles matches lasted more than five hours and the US brought in Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram for the doubles, which they won 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3) against Tomas Barrios Vera and Matias Soto.

Four groups will play in four cities this week to qualify for the knockout stages of the Final 8, which will be held in Malaga, Spain, in November. The top two countries in each group of four teams will advance.

The US, which has won 32 Davis Cup titles, including its last in 2007, is hoping to reach the quarterfinals for the second time since the Davis Cup final was introduced in 2019. In this year’s qualifiers, the Americans defeated Ukraine 4-0 on neutral ground in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Later on Wednesday in Bologna, host nation Italy, the reigning champions, were due to play Brazil in Group A. In Valencia, Spain were due to play the Czech Republic in Group B and in Group D in Manchester, England were due to play Finland.

In the opening match on Tuesday, Belgium defeated the Netherlands 2-1, Australia defeated France 2-1, Germany (playing without second-seeded Alexander Zverev) defeated Slovakia 3-0 and Canada defeated Argentina 2-1.