Playing in Group A, the co-hosts were without Carlos Alcaraz, who tested positive for coronavirus in the build-up to the event.

With world number six Rafael Nadal also absent, Feliciano Lopez opened proceedings for Spain, defeating Roberto Quiroz 6-3, 6-3.

In the second rubber, world number 148 Emilio Gómez threatened to spring a big surprise when he took the opening set 7-5 against Pablo Carreño Busta, the world number 18, who won singles bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Carreño Busta hit back taking the second set 6-3 and the third on a tie-break 7-6 to avoid an upset and put Spain in an unassailable position in the tie.

The whitewash was completed in the doubles when Carreño Busta combined with Granollers to defeat Gonzalo Escobar and Diego Hidalgo 6-4, 6-7, 7-6.

In Group F, co-hosts Austria were beaten 3-0 by Serbia behind closed doors at the Olympiahalle in Innsbruck.

Dušan Lajović got Serbia off to a winning start in the tie as he battled past Gerald Melzer 7-6, 3-6, 7-5.

World number one Novak Djokovic put Serbia in an unassailable position in the tie when he beat Dennis Novak 6-3, 6-2 before Nikola Ćaćić and Filip Krajinović completed the victory in the doubles.

Meanwhile in Group E, Italy overcame the United States 2-1 at the Pala Alpitour in Turin, with Lorenzo Sonego winning the opening singles rubber by defeating Reilly Opelka 6-3, 7-6.

Jannik Sinner then secured victory in the tie for Italy after beating John Isner for the loss of just two games, before Rajeev Ram and Jack Sock earned a consolation victory for the US in the doubles rubber.

A busy third day tomorrow sees six matches scheduled across the three venues.