Radek Stepanek and Lukas Rosol staked the Czech Republic to a 2-0 lead over Japan in their Davis Cup World Group quarterfinal match on Friday.
Stepanek and Rosol both earned hard-fought victories as the Czechs continue their quest for a third straight Davis Cup title.
Stepanek downed Tatsuma Ito 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-1, 7-5 in the opening singles match, while Rosol bested the unheralded Taro Daniel 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2 in the second.