Radek Stepanek and Lukas Rosol gave champions Czech Republic a 2-0 lead in their Davis Cup quarter-final against Japan after hard-fought victories in their singles matches in Tokyo yesterday.

Former world number eight Stepanek came from a set down to beat Tatsuma Ito 6-7(5) 7-6(5) 6-1 7-5 before Rosol survived a mid-match meltdown to overcome 21-year-old Taro Daniel 6-4 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-2 in the second rubber.

Stepanek, 35, fired down 18 aces to quell the challenge of his 146th ranked opponent in three hours, 53 minutes at the Ariake Coliseum after going down in a tight first set tiebreak.

“The second set was bit scary, he got to a set point. But I played an unbelievable volley on the set point which I think was a very important moment of the match,” Stepanek said.

“I was able to sneak out from the tiebreak.

“Sometimes you have days when you are not playing your best tennis but you always have to find a way through. Today was a day like that and I am very happy that I was able to bring the first point to our locker room.”

Rosol, ranked 40, twice broke Daniel’s serve in each of the first two sets to surge ahead but the Japanese debutant fought back, bagging the next two sets to even the rubber out at 2-2.

The Czech got an early break in the final set and also converted his second break point to seal the match out after three hours and 12 minutes.

Ito and Daniel are bearing the weight of Japan’s hopes of prgressing after world number 18 Kei Nishikori withdrew with a groin strain and Go Soeda was laid low by a fever.

Japan, Davis Cup runners-up in 1921, are playing their first World Group quarter-final tie.

Failing light

Andy Murray was halted by failing light as Great Britain’s Davis Cup team ended the first day of their quarter-final against Italy trailing 1-0.

James Ward battled for three hours and nine minutes in Naples before falling to a 6-4 2-6 6-4 6-1 defeat by Italian number one Fabio Fognini.

Murray then won the first set against Andreas Seppi 6-4 and saved four set points with darkness falling to level at 5-5 in the second when play was called off.

The Wimbledon champion will have to finish off the match today before potentially teaming up with Colin Fleming in the doubles, with the reverse singles to come tomorrow.

Davis Cup Quarter-Finals

Japan vs Czech Republic 0-2; France vs Germany 0-2; Italy vs Great Britain 1-0; Switzerland vs Kazakhstan 1-1.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.