Japan was eliminated Thursday from the tennis World Team Cup after losing its third consecutive match in the round robin phase.
Japan dropped its final best-of-three matchup to the United States as doubles pair James Blake and Ryan Harrison topped Tatsuma Ito and Bumpei Sato 4-6, 6-0, 10-3, followed by Harrison's straight-sets singles win over Ito 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).
Go Soeda managed a 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) victory over Andy Roddick in the second singles match.
The United States also failed to advance past the round-robin phase of the eight-team tournament.
Group leaders Argentina and the Czech Republic face off on Friday, with the winner advancing to the finals on Saturday against either Serbia or defending champion Germany.