MOSCOW — Steve Johnson will play the first singles match for the United States against Uzbekistan's No. 1 player Denis Istomin in their Davis Cup World Group playoff.
The 47th-ranked Johnson takes on No. 62 Istomin on Friday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, before the second match pits Jack Sock against Farrukh Dustov.
In Saturday's doubles, Johnson and Sam Querrey, who reached the U.S. open semifinals together last week, take on Istomin and Dustov. Sunday's reverse singles pit Sock against Istomin and Johnson against Dustov.
The winner will play in the top-tier World Group next season.