Italians Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Sonego played off their home crowd in Turin to lift the host nation to a 2-1 victory over the United States in the opening Group E tie in the Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals on Friday, though Jack Sock and Rajeev Ram gave the US-Americans a fighting chance to still advance to the quarterfinals.

Italy swept the day’s singles behind the efforts of the 27th-ranked Sonego and the 20-year-old rising star in Sinner. Sonego played an inspired match in front of a mostly full and lively crowd in the Pala Alpitour arena to defeat Reilly Opelka, 6-3, 7-6(4) after one hour and 13 minutes. “It was not easy,” Sonego said. “It was the first time for me competing at the Davis Cup and I am really happy about the match. Thank you everyone.”