HAMILTON, New Zealand, Feb 7: New Zealand lead Pakistan 2-0 after Friday’s singles in their Asia/Oceania zone group one Davis Cup tie.

Mark Nielsen gave the home team the ideal start routing Pakistan’s number two Aqeel Khan in straight sets droppoing only three games.

Pakistan’s hopes of levelling the score were dashed when New Zealand’s number two overcame Aisam Qureishi in four sets.

Results (New Zealand names first): Mark Nielsen bt Aqeel Khan 6-0 6-1 6-2; Alistair Hunt bt Aisam Qureshi 6-4 1-6 7-5 6-2.

BUCHAREST: Sebastien Grosjean beat Adrian Voinea 6-2 6-3 7-6 (12-10) and Nicolas Escude defeated Andrei Pavel 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 7-6 (7-5) to to give France a 2-0 lead in their Davis Cup world group first round tie on Friday.

Voinea had no reply to the heavy Grosjean serve and only got into the game late in the third set.

In the second singles, Nicolas Escude was playing Andrei Pavel. France reached the Davis Cup final last year but were beaten in Paris by Russia.—Reuters