Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt inspired Australia to a five-set doubles victory to take the edge over Uzbekistan in the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group one second round tie in Namangan on Saturday. Hewitt, rested from Friday's opening singles, partnered Matthew Ebden to battle out a 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over the Uzbek pairing of Denis Istomin and Farrukh Dustov.
The hard-fought win gave the 28-time Davis Cup winners Australia a 2-1 edge heading into Sunday's two reverse singles to decide the tie on clay. The winner of the tie advances to September's World Group playoffs as Australia bid to return to the competition's top tier for the first time since 2007.