Japan, Israel tied up after first day of David Cup World Group playoff

Japan and Israel are deadlocked 1-1 following the opening day of play in their Davis Cup World Group playoff at Ariake Colosseum on Friday.

Japan No. 2 Go Soeda beat Israel No. 1 Dudi Sela in four sets 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in the opening match, while Israel No. 2 Amir Weintraub downed Japan No. 3 Tatsuma Ito 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in the second singles contest.

Ito was playing in place of Japan No. 1 Kei Nishikori, who was ruled out Friday morning with a shoulder injury. Nishikori has not been completely scratched from the tie and could play in the reverse singles matches on Sunday.

Israel captain Eyal Ran was pleased to have the tie even after the first day of action.

"This was a classical day of Davis Cup with the players going all out and fighting for their country," he commented. "We are in this tie and I think we can do it now."

Soeda, ranked 55th in the world, displayed a strong forehand and played solidly from the baseline in recording the victory under a blazing sun on the hardcourt.

The win was the first for Soeda against Sela in four career matches.

"I knew I had to win. I couldn't lose," said Soeda. "I was under pressure to show my best. It was a tough match and a big win for me."

After Sela broke Soeda's serve to open the match, the Japanese broke right back. Following the fifth game, Sela took an injury timeout.

Soeda broke in the sixth game with a volley to go up 4-2. He then broke again in the eighth game to take the set 6-2 in 46 minutes.

Soeda had eight winners in the first set, while Sela committed 21 unforced errors.

Sela, ranked 98th, served better in the second set, getting in 74 percent of his first serves, but after breaking Soeda in the first game and holding serve to go up 2-0, he came undone with several more unforced errors.

Soeda took six of the next eight games, breaking Sela in the 10th game to claim the set in 43 minutes.

Sela had 19 unforced errors in the second set.

The Israeli battled back in the third set, using an effective backhand to help record 14 winner's to Soeda two and claimed the set 6-3 in 34 minutes.

Sela broke twice and saw Soeda rack up 14 unforced errors in the set.

"I was tired in the third set and then Sela started playing really well," Soeda commented. "There was an overrule on a call and I lost focus and he took the momentum from me. Then in the fourth set I started playing aggressively again and was able to get it back."

The 28-year-old Soeda closed out the match by getting in 74 percent of his first serves in the fourth set and converting several key points to clinch the victory.

"The start of the match was tough," noted Sela. "I was short with my balls and he was aggressive. I felt better in the second set, but he was solid and didn't give me any free points."

Sela recognized fatigue in his opponent in the third set and capitalized on it.

"I was more aggressive in the third set. He was getting tired at the end of that set. If he kept playing like that, I thought I could win the match, but then he took the first two games of the fourth set at love. He deserved to win."

Weintraub routed Ito in the second match, registering the triumph in just 1 hour, 55 minutes. Weintraub didn't let his lower ranking (223) hold him back against Ito (67th), dominating in every phase of the game.

Weintraub exhibited a strong serve (11 aces) and excellent groundstrokes in the clinical victory. Ito was bedeviled by his 49 unforced errors in the defeat.

"I was surprised when I heard that Nishikori wasn't going to play, but I was concentrating on myself," said Weintraub. "It was good news for us. It wasn't easy against Ito, but of course Nishikori has a higher ranking."

In analyzing his performance, the 25-year-old Weintraub gave himself high marks.

"My serve was very good. He didn't break me the whole match," he said. "I used good combinations, mixing up speeds and playing strong from the baseline. This was one of the better wins in my career."

Saturday's doubles match will see Ito and Yuichi Sugita take on Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram.

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Japan, Israel set for Davis Cup clash

Japan will be looking to remain in the World Group for the second straight year when it takes on Israel in their Davis Cup playoff tie starting on Friday at Ariake Colosseum.

After a 26-year absence, Japan advanced to the World Group with a victory over India last September at Ariake. Japan then lost on home soil to Croatia 2-3 in their first-round tie in Hyogo Prefecture in February.

Japan No. 1 Kei Nishikori will again be counted on to come through for his nation. Nishikori, currently ranked 24th, advanced to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open earlier this year, but has had to overcome a recent injury to his stomach muscles.

Israel earned the shot at the World Group via its 3-2 victory over Portugal in their Group I Europe/Africa match in April. Israel No. 1 Amir Weintraub and No. 2 Dudi Sela both notched first-day victories to send the Israelis on their way to victory against the Portuguese.

Thursday's draw determined that Sela will take on Go Soeda in the first singles match on Friday, while Weintraub meets Nishikori in the second.

Tatsuma Ito and Yuichi Sugita will battle Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich in Saturday's doubles, while Sunday's reverse singles are scheduled to be Nishikori vs. Sela and Soeda vs Weintraub.

Both captains exuded confidence at Thursday's post-draw press conference.

"We are happy with the draw," said Japan captain Toshiro Sakai. "The team is ready. There is a lot of pressure in the Davis Cup, so our players must perform at the highest level."

"We have had a great week of practice," stated Israel captain Eyal Ran. "Playing Japan here is going to be a challenge, but we are looking forward to it."

The tie will mark the first-ever meeting between the nations in Davis Cup play.

Nishikori, Japan's highest-ranked male player ever, feels the team has put the disappointing loss to Croatia behind it.

"That was a tough match. We lost 3-2 at home," he commented. "Now we have to face a team with veteran players like Dudi and Amir."

"We have a tough team that is hungry," noted Ram. "We have experience on our side. We are looking forward to the tie and hoping to go back into the World Group."

Sela, ranked 98th, was analytical in his outlook on the tie.

"They have very good players, but we have played some of them many times before. I am feeling good. Practice has gone well for us."

Soeda knows he is facing a tall order in Sela, a player he has never beaten.

"His backhand slice is very effective," Soeda said. "He has a variety of shots that he can control well. I have to play my game against him. I think I have a chance because this is the first time to play him in a five-set match."

Captain Ram acknowledged that despite Japan having the homecourt advantage, it will also be under pressure to prevail.

"We know Japan has very good players and they have a lot of expectations on them," Ram concluded. "With Davis Cup you never know how it is going to. Anything can happen."

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