Yoshihito Nishioka upset Illya Marchenko in four sets and Taro Daniel defeated Sergiy Stakhovsky in straight sets to give Japan a 2-0 lead over Ukraine on Friday in their Davis Cup World Group playoff.
World No. 96 Nishioka roared back from 5-2 down in the fourth set to beat the 50th-ranked Marchenko 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 after Daniel won 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-2), 6-1. It was Nishioka's first appearance in Davis Cup singles.
Japan can retain its place in the World Group for 2017 if Kei Nishikori and Yuichi Sugita defeat Danylo Kalenichenko and Stakhovsky in the doubles on Saturday.