Australian Matthew Ebden has made a winning start to his Davis Cup career, beating China’s Ya-Nan Ma 6-2 6-2 in the first of the reverse singles matches in the Asia-Oceania qualifying tie in Geelong.

With Australia holding an unbeatable 3-0 overnight lead, Pat Rafter took the chance to rest stars Lleyton Hewitt and Bernard Tomic for Sunday’s dead reverse singles.

Ebden, 24, repaid his captain’s faith with a solid victory over Ma, who was also playing his first Davis Cup match.

Chris Guccione will take on Wu Di in the final match of the tie.

Australia’s victory at the Geelong Lawn Tennis Club means they advance to the final round of Asia-Oceania qualifying, in which they will host South Korea at home from April 6-8.