Davis Cup: Australia Take Surprise 2-0 Lead Over Czechs

Youngsters Thanasi Kokkinakis and Bernard Tomic handed Australia a surprise 2-0 lead over hosts the Czech Republic in the Davis Cup World Group first round tie in Ostrava on Friday.

Kokkinakis, an 18-year-old world number 133 and Australia's number two, first stunned 31st-ranked Czech number one player Lukas Rosol 4-6, 2-6, 7-5, 7-5, 6-3 in three-and-a-half hours.

Tomic, ranked 38th, then saw off 45th-ranked Jiri Vesely in straight sets 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) in two hours and 28 minutes.

Rosol relied on his forehand in the first two sets before losing his way and nerve to let Kokkinakis capitalise on a late break in both the third and fourth sets.

Kokkinakis let Rosol break him in the fifth set but then won four straight games for a 6-3 win.

"I hung in there, kept digging. I was a break down in the fifth but I felt good. I'm so happy with that win," said Kokkinakis.

"When my back's against the wall I usually can find a way to get it done," he added.

"I did feel like a leader but I failed. It's my fault," said Rosol, blaming his poor performance at the end of sets three and four.

Kokkinakis was a surprise pick by Australia's interim captain Wally Masur who overlooked veteran star Lleyton Hewitt and Sam Groth for Friday's singles.

Tomic lost a break apiece in the first and third set but controlled the game to cruise to a straight-sets win over Vesely.

"He was better in all respects at first. In the third set I started to come level but it didn't work out in the end," said Vesely.

In Saturday's doubles, Jan Mertl and Adam Pavlasek are due to face Groth and Hewitt, but the Czech team are almost certain to change the lineup.

"Right now I have no idea what the lineup might be tomorrow," Czech captain Jaroslav Navratil said after Friday's singles.

Hewitt is itching to get on court.

"That's what Davis Cup is all about! Great job Thanasi Kokkinakis and Bernard Tomic. Time to get some rest and fire up with Sam Groth tomorrow!" he posted on Twitter.

Both teams are without their top players as Czech number one Tomas Berdych has decided to skip the tie to focus on his singles career while teammate Radek Stepanek and Australia's Nick Kyrgios are injured.

Led by Berdych and Stepanek, the Czechs won the Davis Cup in 2012 and 2013 in addition to a 1980 win by former Czechoslovakia.

Australia have won the trophy 28 times -- second only behind the United States with 32 wins -- but their last title dates back to 2003.

The winner of this tie will play either Italy or Kazakhstan in July.