Japan, Israel level in Davis Cup play-offs

Go Soeda and Amir Weintraub posted one win each as Japan and Israel made it 1-1 in the Davis Cup World Group play-offs on Friday in Tokyo. With ace Kei Nishikori taking a rest, Japan's number two Soeda defeated Dudi Sela 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to open the best-of-five contest. But Weintraub, ranked a lowly 188th in the world, pulled off an upset by beating 68th-ranked Tatsuma Ito 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to make it even. Saturday will see the doubles match between Ito and Yuichi Sugita for the hosts and Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram for Israel, before the reverse singles matches on Sunday, with the teams vying for a ticket to the World Group.