TOKYO (AP) - Radek Stepanek and Lukas Rosol won their singles matches Friday to give the defending champion Czech Republic a 2-0 lead over Japan in the Davis Cup quarterfinals.
Stepanek beat Tatsuma Ito 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 6-1, 7-5 at Ariake Coliseum and Rosol defeated Taro Daniel 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2.
In Saturday’s doubles, Stepanek and Jiri Vesely are scheduled to face Ito and Yasutaka Uchiyama.
Kei Nishikori, Japan’s top-ranked player, was forced to withdraw because of a groin injury. The Czech team is also missing its top player, with Tomas Berdych sitting out following two tough tournaments in the United States.
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