THE CANADIAN PRESS
SANTIAGO, Chile — Canada opened its best-of-five Davis Cup Americas Zone second-round tie with a four-set loss to Chile on Friday.
Fernando Gonzalez defeated Peter Polansky of Thornhill, Ont., 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-2 on the outdoor clay at National Stadium.
Gonzalez is ranked 15th in the world and is a former Australian Open finalist while Polansky is 369th in the ATP rankings.
Frederic Niemeyer of Deauville, Que., and Nicolas Massu were unable to complete the second singles match later Friday. Niemeyer, ranked 197th in the world and Massu, a former top-10 player currently ranked No. 111, were tied two sets apiece when play was suspended due to darkness. The match will resume at 10:00 a.m. Saturday.
Later Saturday, Niemeyer will team with veteran left-hander Daniel Nestor of Toronto to take on Gonzalez and Massu before Niemeyer and Polansky face Gonzalez and Massu in reverse singles Sunday.
The winning team will secure a berth in a World Group playoff tie to be played Sept. 19-21.
Canada is without its top-ranked singles player, Frank Dancevic of Niagara Falls, Ont., who is still suffering from a back injury.
Vasek Pospisil of Vernon, B.C., Canada’s top-ranked junior, replaced Dancevic on the roster but is not scheduled to play.
Canada is 4-3 against Chile in Davis Cup play with three of its victories coming indoors on carpet and one coming outdoors on grass. Chile’s three wins have all come on clay.