Japan and Canada are deadlocked 1-1 following the opening day of play in their Davis Cup World Group first-round tie at Ariake Coliseum.
Japan No. 1 Kei Nishikori staked the host nation to a 1-0 lead with a straight-sets (6-4, 6-4, 6-4) victory over Canada No. 2 Peter Polansky in the opening singles match, before Frank Dancevic leveled the tie with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) 6-1 win over Japan No. 2 Go Soeda.
Nishikori, ranked 18th in the world, was made to work against his 135th-ranked opponent, who fought gamely in defeat under the closed roof.