SWITZERLAND 2, NETHERLANDS 0
Geneva, Switzerland – Hard (Indoors)

Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka combined on Friday to give defending champion Switzerland a commanding lead. Wawrinka scraped through in a fifth set to win Switzerland’s first point Friday against the Netherlands. The World No. 4 fought hard to beat No. 144-ranked Thiemo de Bakker 2-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in three hours and nine minutes. De Bakker led 3-0 in the fourth set, but lost the next nine games. He then recovered to 3-3 in the fifth set before a tense conclusion. Federer moved to 39-8 in singles rubbers by sweeping past Jesse Huta Galung 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 42 minutes.

INDIA 1, CZECH REPUBLIC 1
New Dehli, India – Hard (Outdoors)

Three-time runner-up India is level with three-time former champion Czech Republic after day one’s play. Lukas Rosol swept past Indian Yuki Bhambri 6-2, 6-1, 7-5 in the opening runner at the R.K. Khanna Stadium, prior to Somdev Devvarman hitting 20 aces past Czech Jiri Vesely in a 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-3 win. Indians Rohan Bopanna and Leander Paes are scheduled to meet Adam Pavlasekand Radek Stepanek in Saturday’s doubles rubber.

UZBEKISTAN 1, UNITED STATES 1
Tashkent, Uzbekistan – Clay (Outdoors)

Uzbekistan started strongly in its quest for a place in the 2016 World Group with Denis Istomin striking 68 winners past American Steve Johnson in a 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 7-5 victory in three hours and 31 minutes. Johnson served at 5-4, 30/0 in the fifth set. In the second singles rubber, Jack Sock earned the United States its first point by beating Farrukh Dustov 7-5, 6-3, 6-2. Uzbekistan lost in the 2009, 2012 and 2014 play-offs.

RUSSIA 1,  ITALY 1
Irkutsk, Russia – Hard (Indoors)

World No. 58 Teymuraz Gabashvili clinched his third singles rubber win for Russia with his 11th ace to beat Italian Simone Bolelli 7-6(2), 6-1, 6-3 in two hours and 22 minutes. Fabio Fognini then handed Italy its first point, his 15th singles rubber win, with a 7-6(8), 6-2, 6-2 win over 17-year-old Andrey Rublev.

POLAND 1, SLOVAKIA 1
Gydnia, Poland – Hard (Indoors)

Martin Klizan converted four of his eight break point opportunities to overcome Poland’s Michal Przysiezny 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Polish No. 1 Jerzy Janowicz then stuck 22 aces to level the tie 7-6(1), 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-2 against Norbert Gombos.

DOMINICAN REP. 1, GERMANY 1

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – Hard (Outdoors)

Victor Estrella Burgos put the home team in front 1-0 after downing Dustin Brown in three hours and nine minutes. Estrella Burgos was slated to face World No. 73 Benjamin Becker, but saw the Germans select the No. 108 Brown for the first rubber instead. Philipp Kohlschreiber secured the second rubber with a 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 victory over Jose Hernandez-Fernandez.

COLOMBIA 1, JAPAN 1
Pereira, Colombia – Clay (Outdoors)

Santiago Giraldo got the home team to a good start with a 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 1-6, 6-4 win over youngster Taro Daniel. The 22 year old nearly got the measure of the 59^th-ranked Giraldo, winning the same number of points as his opponent (141) despite taking the loss. Daniel, ranked No. 124, dropped to 0-3 in Davis Cup singles rubbers. World No. 6 Kei Nishikori then edged Alejandro Falla 7-6(3), 7-6(1), 7-5 in just under three hours to pull Japan even.