Paris (AFP) - Raphael Collignon stunned world number eight Alex De Minaur on Saturday for the biggest win of his career as Belgium took a 2-0 lead over Australia in their Davis Cup second-round qualifier.

While Australia have a fight on their hands, Germany, Argentina, Austria and France all qualified to join defending champions Italy in the eight-team final in Bologna in November.

Germany beat Japan 4-0 in Tokyo with Argentina downing the Netherlands 3-1 in Groningen.

Hungary rekindled their campaign pulling level 2-2 with Austria before Jurij Rodionov gained his decisive singles win over Marton Fucsovics for a thrilling 3-2 victory for the Austrians.

In Osijek, Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic gave hosts Croatia hope of a famous comeback against France with a doubles victory over Benjamin Bonzi and Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

But Davis Cup debutant Corentin Moutet completed the job for France with a 7-5, 6-4 triumph over Marin Cilic that clinched the tie 3-1.

At the Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney, 23-year-old Collignon, ranked 91, overcame cramping to score a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 upset over De Minaur after more than three hours of play.

Belgium’s number one Zizou Bergs then beat Jordan Thompson 7-6 (⁷⁄₄), 6-4 in the other singles rubber.

The 28-time champions Australia, who were runners-up in 2022 and 2023 and semi-finalists last year, need to sweep both reverse singles and the doubles on Sunday.

Collignon was always going to be a tricky for De Minaur after posting a career-best win over world number 12 Casper Ruud at the just-completed US Open en route to the third round.

Beating the Australian was his biggest scalp.

“It feels amazing, I thought I wouldn’t be able to finish the match because I got cramp so bad at the beginning of the third,” said Collignon.

“I tried to go for it, focus on the serve and I don’t know how I won.

“I think when you play for your country there is no pain… I am very happy.”

After the Belgian took the first set, De Minaur surged back with 10 consecutive points to take charge of the second and with Collignon doubling over with cramp in the first game of the third set, it appeared the Australian would bank the win.

But Collignon battled on to give his country an unexpected advantage.

“It feels great for the team,” said Bergs. “We did a great job today, but we are far from the end.”

- Spain trail Denmark -

In Tokyo, doubles duo Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz sealed the winning point for the Germans against Yosuke Watanuki and Takeru Yuzuki 6-3, 7-6 (⁷⁄₄).

The Japanese pair saved four match points in a tight tie-break before conceding to the three-time champions.

Justin Engel made it 4-0 after a 6-3, 6-7 (²⁄₇), 10-7 battle with Rei Sakamoto.

Argentina’s Andres Molteni and Horacio Zeballos sealed the winning point in the doubles against the Netherlands.

World number 11 Holger Rune got Denmark off the mark against six-time champions Spain with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Pablo Carreno Busta in Marbella, with Elmer Moeller beating Jaume Munar in three sets to make it 2-0.

The United States, the record 32-times winners, split the first two singles with the Czech Republic.