Mardy Fish defeated Alejandro Falla 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 on Friday to give the United States a 1-0 lead in its World Group Davis Cup playoff against Colombia.
Fish broke Falla in the final game of the fifth set in the 3-hour-59-minute match. The home crowd of about 8,000 supported Falla with wild cheers and nonstop renditions of the Mexican wave.
The match on outdoor red clay is being played at the La Santamaria bullring in Bogota, which is located at 2,650 meters (8,700 feet).
American Sam Querrey faced Santiago Giraldo in Friday's second singles. Doubles are set Saturday with reverse singles on Sunday.
Fish has put more emphasis on fitness recently and it paid off with his fourth victory in five tries this season in five-set matches.
''I was a gutsy mental effort by Mardy today,'' said U.S. coach Patrick McEnroe, who is retiring after this tie. ''It goes to show what being fit means.''
The statistical categories were nearly even for the two, though Fish had a clear edge in aces - 8-1.
The winner of the tie will remain in the Davis Cup World Cup, the top tier of the competition. The United States has dropped out of the World Group only once since it began in 1981. The U.S. has won the Davis Cup 32 times, more than any other nation. Colombia is trying to reach the World Group for the first time.
