OSAKA — Japan's Davis Cup playoff against Romania is on a knife-edge going into the second day after Takao Suzuki beat Victor Hanescu to put the hosts up 1-0 before Andrei Pavel leveled the tie with victory over Go Soeda.

World No. 216 Suzuki made sure of a sterling start for Japan at Namihaya Dome Main Arena in Osaka on Friday with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) victory over 198-cm Hanescu, before 33-year-old Pavel downed Soeda, 10 years his junior, 6-3, 6-7 (7-9), 7-5, 6-3.

All eyes turn now toward Saturday's doubles, when Suzuki and Satoshi Iwabuchi are scheduled to take on Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau.