Carlos Alcaraz returned to action after his shock US Open loss to help Spain get off to a winning start in the Davis Cup.
The 21-year-old French Open and Wimbledon winner was knocked out of the Flushing Meadows Grand Slam in the second round last month.
With time on his hands he made an impromptu trip to Monza to watch the Formula One Italian Grand Prix then was back on court in Valencia as Spain opened their group stage finals campaign against the Czech Republic.
Roberto Bautista Agut bagged Spain’s first point with a 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 win over Jiri Lehecka.
Alcaraz then entered the frey, recovering from a 6-7 (3/7) first-set loss to Tomas Machac to wipe the floor in the second 6-1 before Machac retired.
Alcaraz followed that up by partnering Marcel Granollers to a tense 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) doubles win over Jakub Mensik and Adam Pavlasek to claim the Group B tie 3-0.
Earlier in China, the United States began their hunt for a record-extending 33rd Davis Cup title by sweeping aside Chile.
Bob Bryan’s side belied their underdog status in terms of rankings to down the more fancied South Americans 3-0 in their group stage opener in Zhuhai.
The Americans have a day off now before today’s next Group C clash with Slovakia, hurting after Tuesday’s 3-0 loss to Germany, who take on Chile.
The USA are aiming to make it out of the group stage to progress to the finals for the first time since 2022.
Over in Manchester, Great Britain beat Finland 2-1 thanks to singles wins from Dan Evans and Billy Harris.
And in Bologna, defending champions Italy, without newly minted US champion Jannik Sinner, secured a win over Brazil thanks largely to singles victories for Matteo Berrettini and Matteo Arnaldi.
The top two nations in each of the four groups in the round robin phase will qualify for the eight-team final in Malaga, Spain from November 19-24.

Davis Cup group stage finals results

Group A
In Bologna, ItalyItaly 2 Brazil 1Matteo Berrettini (ITA) bt Joao Fonseca (BRA) 6-1, 7-6 (7/5)
Matteo Arnaldi (ITA) bt Thiago Monteiro (BRA) 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/5)
Rafael Matos/Marcelo Melo (BRA) bt Simone Bolelli/Andrea Vavassori (ITA) 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (8/6), 7-5

Group B
In Valencia, SpainCzech Republic 0 Spain 3Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) bt Jiri Lehecka (CZE) 7-6 (7/1), 6-4
Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) bt Tomas Machac (CZE) 6-7 (3/7), 6-1 - retired
Carlos Alcaraz/Marcel Granollers (ESP) bt Jakub Mensik/Adam Pavlasek (CZE) 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 7-6 (7/2)

Group C
In Zhuhai, ChinaUSA 3 Chile 0Reilly Opelka (USA) bt Cristian Garin (CHI) 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3)
Brandon Nakashima (USA) bt Alejandro Tabilo (CHI) 7-6 (7/5), 2-6, 7-6 (7/3)
Austin Krajicek/Rajeev Ram (USA) bt Tomas Barrios Vera/Matias Soto (CHI) 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3)

Group D
In Manchester, EnglandFinland 1 Britain 2Dan Evans (ENG) bt Eero Vasa (FIN) 7-6 (7/3), 6-2
Billy Harris (ENG) bt Otto Virtanen (FIN) 6-4, 7-6 (7/4)
Harri Heliovaara/Otto Virtanen (FIN) bt Dan Evans/Neal Skupski (ENG) 7-6 (7/4), 7-5