Australia last won the Davis Cup in 2003.
The United States have pulled a Davis Cup surprise, summoning Jack Sock for their must-win doubles rubber on Saturday against Australia in Brisbane.
Australian number one Nick Kyrgios plays John Isner in the second singles rubber later on Friday.
But teammate Jordan Thompson's 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 win over American Jack Sock, the highest-ranked player in the tie at No.15, set the Americans back on their heels.
The Americans had needed the victory to remain in the quarter-final tie after Jordan Thompson stunned Sock 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 and Nick Kyrgios eased past John Isner 7-5, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) in the opening singles on Friday.
"Wearing the green and gold, there's no greater honour", Thompson said in his on-court post-match interview.
"I don't know. He played a good match, so deserved to win".
"I still am very emotional out there".
Strong storms to roll through Charlotte area
Officials cut short the final afternoon practice before the tournament start and ordered rain-bedraggled fans to leave the course. It tallied numerous reports of hail and high winds and listed 10 possible tornadoes - eight in Georgia, one in IN and one in SC .
"I just tried to wear him down, and I thought I was fit enough to do that", Thompson said. "I'm trying to knuckle down and compete for every point and that's something I haven't done in the past", he said. "I think anything is possible this year. I'm only human. People tend to forget I'm only 21".
Earlier Thompson, ranked 79th in the world, held his nerve to see off a faltering Sock 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 in front of a raucous crowd on Pat Rafter Arena. John Peers and Sam Groth, who have teamed up in each of Australia's last two Davis Cup ties will be out to end the tie before the reverse singles get underway on Sunday.
Thompson broke Sock's serve twice in the fourth set and then closed the match out in style before celebrating with delighted Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt. Lets hopefully close it out tomorrow, world number 16 Kyrgios said on court after the win.
Peers and Groth dictated much of the first set and grabbed it 6-3, taking all of the momentum into the second and having more than a few wondering if a quick afternoon was on the cards.
Thompson, 22 and from Sydney, couldn't help but remind fans of his captain, Lleyton Hewitt, as he scrapped and clawed through four sets against Sock, who lost 6-3 3-6 7-6 (4) 6-4 in a disappointing result for US captain Jim Courier.
But he jogged to his chair with an uncustomary wide, mid-match smile when he took the second set with a drop shot.
Kyrgios had numerous chances to break Isner's serve throughout the match, although both of his service breaks came in the first set.
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