Japan's Takao Suzuki posted his second win in two days to give the home side a 2-1 lead over Romania in the Davis Cup World Group playoff in Osaka yesterday.
The veteran 34-year-old teamed up with Satoshi Iwabuchi to beat Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in just over two hours in the doubles match of the best-of-five contest.
Japan reached the playoff after beating Thailand. The Thais were without their two top players, 2002 Asian Games gold medallist Paradorn Srichaphan and last year's Asian Games champion Danai Udomchoke, who were both sidelined due to injuries.
Romania had lost to France 4-1 in the World Group first round.
On Friday's opening day Andrei Pavel, whose first tour title came at the Japan Open in 1998, fired 37 aces on his way to a 6-3, 6-7 (7/9), 7-5, 6-3 victory over Go Soeda to level at 1-1.
In the opening match, Suzuki defeated Romania's number two Victor Hanescu 7-6 (7/4), 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) to give his country an early lead.
The four singles players will play reverse matches today.
Meanwhile, in Slovakia Im Kyu-tae and Lee Hyung-taik scored a n important win over Lukas Lacko and Michal Mertinak yesterday to put South Korea 2-1 ahead today's reverse singles.
The Koreans stormed ahead from the outset, winning the first set 6-0 in just 25 minutes before sealing the victory 6-0 6-3 6-2.
Also see story:
Davis Cup semis end level after day one
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