(Reuters) -Davis Cup heavyweights Australia and the United States eased through the first qualifying round on Saturday but Britain were knocked out as Japan hit back from 2-1 down to win 3-2. Australia,

Jacob Fearnley and Billy Harris both lost their singles matches on Saturday as Japan earned a 3-2 Davis Cup win over Great Britain in Miki, Japan to send Leon Smith's team to a relegation playoff.

Great Britain face a Davis Cup relegation play-off after losing their first-round tie 3-2 against Japan. With the tie level at 1-1 after Friday's opening day, Britain took the lead when Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury won Saturday's opening rubber 7-6 7-6 against Yosuke Watanuki and Takeru Yuzuki.

Japan fought back from 2-1 down to beat Britain 3-2 in their Davis Cup qualifier on Saturday to advance to the second round while the United States sealed a 4-0 victory over Taiwan. With the score tied at 1-1 after Friday's singles rubbers,

Yoshihito Nishioka and Kei Nishikori won their reverse singles matches as Japan came from behind to beat Britain 3-2 in the fir

Japan fought back from 2-1 down to beat Britain 3-2 in its Davis Cup qualifier on Saturday to advance to the second round while the United States sealed a 4-0 victory over Taiwan.

Alex Michelsen gave the United States a 2-0 lead over Taiwan on his Davis Cup debut in the first round qualifiers on Friday, while Jacob Fearnley also impressed in his first appearance in the competition to pull Britain level with Japan.

Alex Michelsen gave the U.S. a 2-0 lead over Taiwan in his Davis Cup debut Friday, while Jacob Fearnley also impressed in his first appearance in the competition to pull Britain level with Japan.