Sam Querrey came from behind for a five-set triumph over Victor Troicki as the United States levelled their Davis Cup tie against a Novak Djokovic-led Serbia.
After world number one Djokovic beat John Isner in straight sets, 7-6 (7/5) 6-2 7-5, Troicki looked like giving Serbia a 2-0 lead in Boise, Idaho, when he moved two sets to one ahead of Querrey.
However the match was a long way from over, with Querrey tearing through the fourth set before edging a tight decider to leave all to play for in Saturday’s doubles and Sunday’s reverse singles.
He crossed the winning line at the Taco Bell Arena in three hours and 20 minutes, taking the match 7-6 (7/1) 3-6 4-6 6-1 6-4.
The opening-day honours were also shared at the Thunderbird Sports Centre in Vancouver, where Milos Raonic dragged Canada level with Italy.
Andrea Seppi had staged a stunning fightback from two sets behind to beat Vasek Pospisil in the opener, clinching a 5-7 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-3 win to put Italy in front.
But Raonic was not so vulnerable with a two-set lead, and closed out his tussle with Fabio Fognini 6-4 7-6 (7/4) 7-5.
In Buenos Aires, Juan Monaco enjoyed a straight-sets victory over Gilles Simon as Argentina and France ended the first day of
the Davis Cup tied at 1-1.
Monaco’s victory was vital if Argentina were to have any real chance in the tie after Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had prevailed over Carlos Berlocq in five sets to put France ahead.
Monaco had been on a poor run of form but posted a 7-6 (7/2) 6-2 6-4 victory over Simon, who had only been drafted on to the France team on Thursday following Richard Gasquet’s withdrawal.
Tsonga had earlier beaten Berlocq 4-6 6-2 6-3 5-7 6-2 in a draining match lasting seven minutes short of four hours.
Defending Davis Cup champions Czech Republic coped with the absences of Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek to take a commanding 2-0 lead over Kazakhstan.
With Berdych missing the tie with a shoulder injury and Stepanek rested on day one on his return from neck surgery, the visiting Czechs relied on Lukas Rosol and Jan Hajek to give them a 2-0 lead in Astana.
Hajek beat Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3 6-2 6-4, with Rosol overcoming Andrey Golubev 4-6 6-4 6-2 7-6 (8/6).