By Chris Oddo | Thursday March 4, 2016

John Isner staked the Americans to a lead on Friday in Melbourne, but Bernard Tomic answered the bell to leave the Americans and Aussies deadlocked at one after Day one of their Davis Cup tilt.

The two nations have compiled 60 Davis Cup titles between them, and their first meeting since 1999 could end up going down to the wire. After the all-important doubles rubber on Saturday, all eyes will be pointed towards Sunday’s first reverse singles rubber between Tomic and Isner.

Isner put down his marker on Friday, hammering 20 aces to take down Sam Groth, 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-2. Isner saved all six break points he faced, including four in the first set before he took it in the tiebreaker. From there the American took control, breaking four times on seven opportunities in the final two sets to cruise to victory in one hour and 49 minutes.

“It was a very, very good performance for me and certainly I’ve played some matches in a lot in my career where I’ve struggled on return but I think today I was pretty solid.” Isner said.

Isner improves to 9-9 in Davis Cup with the win.

The American, not known for his return game, says his ability to adjust to Groth’s serve-and-volley tactics gave him the edge.

“I think the main thing is I became a lot more comfortable out there and a lot of times I had a target because he was serving and volleying which is a bit different. There aren’t many pure serve and volleyers out there left, I think. You know, when you know a guy’s coming in and you have a target like that it sort of makes your mind set, you know, you’ve got to shorten up your return, you’ve got to try to get it low and get it down at his feet and that’s what I do.”

The Americans momentum was short-lived on Friday, as Tomic stepped up and delivered a crucial point to send Australia home with a point.

Tomic defeated Jack Sock for the first time in four career meetings, 7-6(2), 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, in two hours and 24 minutes.

Tomic improves to 16-3 in Davis Cup with the win.

“Bernie did really well,” Aussie captain Lleyton Hewitt said. “Right from the start he came out serving great, hitting his spots really well. That was obviously a key to not let Jack get into too many of Bernie’s service games and we felt like Bernie’s going to get a lot more into his and put a lot more pressure on his second serve and he able to do that.”

Tomorrow’s doubles will feature the Bryan Brothers vs. Groth and John Peers.

They Bryans are bidding for their 24th Davis Cup victory. They have never played the Peers/Groth pairing before, but have gone 5-2 vs Peers and 3-0 vs. Groth lifetime.