PARIS: Jiri Lehecka brought the Czech Republic level in their Davis Cup qualifier against the United States on Friday, after South Korea moved to the brink of a first quarter-finals appearance.
Lehecka beat US Open runner-up Ben Shelton 6-4, 6-4 in Prague as the Czechs bounced back in their second-round qualifying tie following Learner Tien’s straight-sets win over Jakub Mensik in the opening singles rubber.
South Korea seized a 2-0 lead over India in Seoul as Kwon Soon-woo and Chung Hyeon both staged dramatic comebacks.
Kwon recovered to beat 367th-ranked Dhakshineswar Suresh 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Chung, a former Australian Open semi-finalist whose career has been derailed by injuries, also came from a set down to overcome Sumit Nagal, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Austria and Belgium are all locked at 1-1 in Vienna. Jurij Rodionov beat Gauthier Onclin in straight sets to put Austria ahead, but Zizou Bergs fought back to see off Lukas Neumayer 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Hosts Canada seized a 2-0 lead over France at Quebec City.
Canada’s Liam Drax1, ranked 205th in the world, upset France’s Arthur Rinderknech 6-2, 7-5, in the opening match and world number five Felix AugerAliassime outlasted France’s Quentin Halys 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-3 to put the hosts in command.-AFP