Davis Cup: Australia, Germany, Canada move to 2-0

Australia, Germany and Canada improved to 2-0 at the Davis Cup Finals group stage, while the Netherlands rallied past Brazil to take its first win of Group A on Thursday.

The Dutch team beat Brazil 2-1, while Australia swept an ailing Czech team 3-0, Germany remained perfect with a 3-0 win over Chile and Canada swept all three points against Finland.

In Group A play in Bologna, Italy, the Netherlands improved to 1-1 with its victory over Brazil.

The Brazilians got on the board first when Joao Fonseca surprised Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 7-6 (3). Tallon Griekspoor drew the Dutch even with a 7-6 (2), 6-4 win over Thiago Monteiro. The pivotal doubles match saw Wesley Koolhof pair with van de Zandschulp to edge Brazil's Rafael Matos and Marcelo Melo 6-4, 7-6 (5).

In Group B in Valencia, Spain, Australia took advantage of a weak Czech team to tighten their grip on top spot in the group standings.

After Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis battled past Jakub Mensik 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-3, Tomas Machac attempted to play through a calf and Achilles injury against Alexei Popyrin, because the only other available singles player on the team, Jiri Lehecka, was sidelined by illness.

Machac didn't last two games before retiring, giving Australia the match win. It became a sweep in doubles when Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell beat Mensik and Adam Pavlasek 6-4, 6-2.

In Group C in Zhuhai, China, Germany swept Chile handily. Maximilian Marterer defeated Tomas Barrios Vera 6-1, 6-3; Yannick Hanfmann beat Alejandro Tabilo 7-5, 6-4; and the doubles team of Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz toppled Barrios Vera and Matias Soto 6-1, 6-3. Germany is the only team to win all six matches in any group so far.

In Group D in Manchester, England, Canada trounced Finland. Denis Shapovalov defeated Eero Vasa 7-6 (2), 6-2; Felix Auger-Aliassime cruised past Otto Virtanen 6-2, 6-3; and in doubles, Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime beat Virtanen and Harri Heliovaara 6-2, 7-5.

The competition continues Friday. The U.S. team will take on Slovakia to try to improve to 2-0 before a showdown with Germany on Saturday.

--Field Level Media