<p>Italy's Fabio Fognini said it was a "strange feeling" playing a Davis Cup tie with no fans, after helping his country into a 2-0 lead against South Korea on Friday.</p>.<p>The match in Cagliari, one of 12 qualifiers to decide which nations go to the Madrid finals in November, is being held in an empty stadium because of the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> crisis that has hit Italy especially hard.</p>.<p>Fognini beat Lee Duck-hee 6-0 6-3 before Gianluca Mager, making his debut, beat Nam Ji-Sung 6-3 7-5 - both matches played in front of team officials and some media.</p>.<p>"Conditions were strange," Fognini told the Davis Cup website. "I guess I am the first in Italy to play a Davis Cup match in these conditions.</p>.<p>"It was not difficult to focus, but it was a bit strange to play in front of 100 people. But safety first and then sport."</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/coronavirus-outbreak-live-29-people-test-positive-in-india-paytm-and-oyo-affected-799686.html"><strong>Track live updates of coronavirus cases in India here</strong></a></p>.<p>Japan were also playing their tie against Ecuador in an empty stadium in Miki because of the coronavirus spread, which has played havoc with sporting fixtures across the world.</p>.<p>Without Kei Nishikori, Japan trailed 2-0 after Roberto Quiroz beat Yasutaka Uchiyama and Emilio Gomez beat Go Soeda.</p>.<p>Elsewhere 2018 champions Croatia are close to booking their spot in Madrid after establishing a 2-0 lead over India in Zagreb. Marin Cilic edged past Ramkumar Ramanathan 7-6 7-6 after Borna Gojo beat Prajnesh Gunneswaran in three sets.</p>.<p>In a local derby Czech Republic lead Slovakia 2-0 in Bratislava, while Germany and Belarus were level 1-1 in Dusseldorf.</p>.<p>Pablo Cuevas beat Jurij Rodionov to take Uruguay into the second day against a Dominic Thiem-less Austria level at 1-1. Uruguay have never been in the World Group before.</p>.<p>The Netherlands were locked at 1-1 away in Kazakhstan, as were Sweden and Chile in Stockholm and Hungary and Belgium in Debrecen.</p>.<p>Australia will continue on Saturday with a healthy 2-0 lead over Brazil.</p>.<p>In Bogota, Colombia and Argentina were tied at 1-1, while the United States were hosting Uzbekistan in Honolulu later on Friday.</p>
<p>Italy's Fabio Fognini said it was a "strange feeling" playing a Davis Cup tie with no fans, after helping his country into a 2-0 lead against South Korea on Friday.</p>.<p>The match in Cagliari, one of 12 qualifiers to decide which nations go to the Madrid finals in November, is being held in an empty stadium because of the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> crisis that has hit Italy especially hard.</p>.<p>Fognini beat Lee Duck-hee 6-0 6-3 before Gianluca Mager, making his debut, beat Nam Ji-Sung 6-3 7-5 - both matches played in front of team officials and some media.</p>.<p>"Conditions were strange," Fognini told the Davis Cup website. "I guess I am the first in Italy to play a Davis Cup match in these conditions.</p>.<p>"It was not difficult to focus, but it was a bit strange to play in front of 100 people. But safety first and then sport."</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/coronavirus-outbreak-live-29-people-test-positive-in-india-paytm-and-oyo-affected-799686.html"><strong>Track live updates of coronavirus cases in India here</strong></a></p>.<p>Japan were also playing their tie against Ecuador in an empty stadium in Miki because of the coronavirus spread, which has played havoc with sporting fixtures across the world.</p>.<p>Without Kei Nishikori, Japan trailed 2-0 after Roberto Quiroz beat Yasutaka Uchiyama and Emilio Gomez beat Go Soeda.</p>.<p>Elsewhere 2018 champions Croatia are close to booking their spot in Madrid after establishing a 2-0 lead over India in Zagreb. Marin Cilic edged past Ramkumar Ramanathan 7-6 7-6 after Borna Gojo beat Prajnesh Gunneswaran in three sets.</p>.<p>In a local derby Czech Republic lead Slovakia 2-0 in Bratislava, while Germany and Belarus were level 1-1 in Dusseldorf.</p>.<p>Pablo Cuevas beat Jurij Rodionov to take Uruguay into the second day against a Dominic Thiem-less Austria level at 1-1. Uruguay have never been in the World Group before.</p>.<p>The Netherlands were locked at 1-1 away in Kazakhstan, as were Sweden and Chile in Stockholm and Hungary and Belgium in Debrecen.</p>.<p>Australia will continue on Saturday with a healthy 2-0 lead over Brazil.</p>.<p>In Bogota, Colombia and Argentina were tied at 1-1, while the United States were hosting Uzbekistan in Honolulu later on Friday.</p>