Hamburg, 15 September 2012 | AAP

Lleyton Hewitt has fallen to a red-hot Florian Mayer as Germany levelled the Davis Cup tie against Australia at 1-1 after Bernard Tomic won the opening rubber in Hamburg.

Mayer defeated Australia’s greatest Davis Cup servant 7-5 6-3 6-2 in two hours and seven minutes on clay at Rothenbaum Stadium.

It was Hewitt’s first straights sets singles loss in Davis Cup since 2005.

Bernard Tomic earlier opened Australia’s account with a 2-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(4) victory over world No.127 Cedrik-Marcel Stebe in three hours and 17 minutes.

Tomic had to overcome cold, blustery conditions for his win on a sluggish court with the roof being shut for Hewitt’s clash against Mayer.

In the calmer conditions, the world No.25 German outplayed Hewitt from the moment the Australian served for the first set at 5-4 and 30-15.

Australia must win the tie to return to the elite World Group next year for the first time since 2007.

Hewitt and Chris Guccione will team up in the doubles against Philipp Petzschner and Benjamin Becker on Saturday before the reverse singles on Sunday.

The Australian doubles combination have a 3-0 record in the competition while the Germans have never played doubles together at Davis Cup.

Mayer is due to play Tomic first up on Sunday and there is a chance of the Germans putting Petzschner in for Stebe for the fifth rubber against Hewitt.

Hewitt said that Mayer had just been too good on Friday.

“I tried to weather the storm … I was only a couple of points away from winning that first set and that would have been nice,” he said.

“At least to put a bit more scoreboard pressure on him and know he is going to have to go at least four sets to win.

“After he played a good game to break me at 6-5, it was hard to stop him with his confidence pretty high.”

Tomic was relieved to have chalked up his win.

“It was a rough week and I am happy to get out there and play really well and get one point for Australia,” he said.

The teenager said he had felt the pressure as the nation’s top-ranked player with a World Group spot up for grabs.

“Your team is expecting a lot from you,” he said.

“You are the No.1 ranked player and you have to put in all the hard work and show your teammates you are willing to do anything for the team.”

Watch the action tonight from 11 pm AEST on 7TWO (see below for more details).

Germany v Australia Davis Cup World Group Play-off

Day 1: Friday 14 September

Rubber 1: Bernard Tomic d Cedrik-Marcel Stebe 2-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(4)

Rubber 2: Florian Mayer d Lleyton Hewitt 7-5 6-3 6-2

Day 2: Saturday 15 September

Rubber 3: Benjamin Becker/Philipp Petzschner v Chris Guccione/Lleyton Hewitt

Day 3: Sunday 16 September

Rubber 4: Florian Mayer v Bernard Tomic

Rubber 5: Cedrik-Marcel Stebe v Lleyton Hewitt

Broadcast schedule

Watch the World Group Play-off tie LIVE on 7TWO:

Saturday September 15

Melbourne         11pm on 7TWO

Sydney                 11pm on 7TWO

Brisbane              11pm on 7TWO

Adelaide              10.30pm on 7TWO

Perth                     9pm on 7TWO

Sunday September 16

Melbourne         7.30pm LIVE on 7TWO

Sydney                 7.30pm LIVE on 7TWO

Brisbane              7.30pm LIVE on 7TWO

Adelaide              7pm LIVE on 7TWO

Perth                     5.30pm LIVE on 7TWO