BANGKOK, Thailand — Carsten Ball and Chris Guccione validated their coach's decision to let them team up against Thailand, beating twins Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-4 in Davis Cup doubles and giving Australia a 2-1 lead heading into reverse singles.

Rather than call upon the former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt for doubles, Australian captain John Fitzgerald chose to go with the tall, big-serving left-handers to try and give the Aussies the advantage in their Asia/Oceania Group One matchup.

The Australian pair took the first set on a double fault in the tiebreak, and an early break in the second gave them control. One more break in the final set was all that was needed to prevail in the hot and steamy conditions.

Hewitt will take on Thailand's Danai Udomchoke, who beat Brydan Klein in the first day's single matches, in Sunday's reverse singles.

Klein, or possibly the higher-ranked Guccione if Australia makes a change, would be favored against 18-year-old Kittipong Wachiramanowong in the other singles match.

The winning nation will advance to a regional playoff against the winner of the Taiwan-India match, with that winner moving on to the World Group playoffs.