Russia were crushing winners over Croatia, while Belgium edged out Colombia and Canada overcame Italy on the opening day of the 2019 Davis Cup finals.
Croatia would have pinned their hopes on Borna Coric but Karen Khachanov came back from a set down to beat him in three sets to extend their lead over Russia to 2-0. This was after Andrey Rublev had crushed little-known Borna Gojo in the opening match of the tie 6-3, 6-3 to take a 1-0 lead.
Khachanov and Rublev then combined to beat Ivan Dodig and Nikola Mektic in the final doubles rubber in straight sets to brighten their chances of moving into the quarterfinal. Hosts Spain is the third team in the group and a win over them will ensure a Russian qualification.
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Belgium and Colombia faced off in a Group D tie, and the Belgians had wrapped it up before the doubles encounter. This was following a straight-set win over for Steve Darcis over Santiago Giraldo and a three-set victory for David Goffin over Daniel Elahi Galan.
Colombian world number one doubles pair of Juan-Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah ensured they would go into their second round-robin match with an outside chance as they registered a three-set win over Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen. It was a match that could have gone either way before the Colombian pair won the final set tie-breaker.
In a Group F encounter, Canada won both their singles matches before Italy came back to notch one win in the doubles.
Canadian veteran Vasek Pospisil needed just two sets to stun Fabio Fognini in the opener, before Denis Shapovalov and ATP Finals debutant Matteo Berrettini were involved in three tie-breakers in the second singles match. Shapovalov won the final set tie-breaker to give Canada the tie.
Berrettini then combined with Fognini to edge out Pospisil and Shapovalov in the final rubber of the tie.
Get the rest of the Davis Cup 2019 schedule here.
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