Opelka, Nakashima survive 'epic day' to help USA past Chile

The United States swept Chile 3-0 in Wednesday’s Davis Cup Finals Group Stage clash, but the victory was less straightforward than the scoreline suggested. The Americans needed a deciding-set tie-break in all three matches in Zhuhai.

Reilly Opelka and Brandon Nakashima led the singles charge before Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram secured the clean sweep for Team USA.

“It was truly an epic day of tennis for both teams," said United States team captain Bob Bryan. "Everyone showed a lot of heart, a lot of guts. Hats off to the Chileans. Hats off to our guys who were really digging deep, especially in the big moments.

"I don’t think it’s ever happened in Davis Cup that all matches went to the third-set breaker… historic day. Just feeling very, very proud of the players.”

Opelka began the day by hammering 27 aces to edge past Cristian Garin 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(3) and improve to 2-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

“My serve is the shot that had been taking me the longest to get back since my injury,” said Opelka, who is playing just his seventh event of the season.“I didn’t serve well at the US Open, but every week it’s been getting better. I’ve been starting to get the accuracy back.

“I think it’s going to continue to progress and get a little bit better and back to where it was, because you know I think it was one of the best.”

Nakashima, fresh off a career-best fourth-round run at his home Slam, made his Davis Cup debut in style. The 23-year-old overcame World No. 22 Alejandro Tabilo 7-6(5), 2-6, 7-6(3) after two hours, 44 minutes in humid conditions.

Tie: SEALED ??@b_nakashima pulls through a brutal encounter against Tabilo 7-6(5) 2-6 7-6(3)!@DavisCup | #DavisCup pic.twitter.com/P60tUPyWXd

“It feels amazing,” said Nakashima. “It was my first ever Davis Cup win and to do it like that was super special. To get the win for the team was super important. I was really happy with the way I was playing.”

Krajicek and Ram, who partnered to win the Paris Olympics silver medal, closed the day by rallying past Tomas Barrios Vera and Matias Soto 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(3). The Americans won 85 per cent of their first-serve points and saved four of the five break points they faced.

The United States will next clash against Slovakia on Friday. Chile faces Germany on Thursday.

In Group D action, Great Britain leaned on tour-veteran Daniel Evans to pull ahead of Finland before Davis Cup debutant Billy Harris secured the win. Evans, 34, downed Eero Vasa 7-6(3), 6-2 after dropping just three points behind his first serve. Harris overcame Otto Virtanen 6-4, 7-6(4).

Finland's Harri Heliovaara and Virtanen won the doubles match with a 7-6(4), 7-5 victory against Evans and Neal Skupski.

Contribution from daviscup.com in the report.

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