Tennis: New Zealand swept 5-0 in Davis Cup

Rubin Statham. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

The New Zealand Davis Cup team has lost the final singles matches in their Asia/Oceania Group I relegation playoff against India in Chandigarh to lose the tie 5-0.

The reverse singles saw the two respective No 1-ranked players clash, with Rubin Statham taking on top-200 ranked Yuki Bhambri. Statham won the first set but dropped the next two to lose 2-6 7-5 7-5(5).

The fifth match saw Artem Sitak play Sanam Singh, the home player comfortably winning 6-4 6-1.

India had sealed the tie at the end of day two after winning the doubles.

New Zealand will now play away to Chinese Taipei 19-21 October in a bid to remain in Asia/Oceania Group I.

Results:
Yuki Bhambri (India) bt Dan King-Turner (New Zealand) 3-6 0-6 6-2 6-4 6-2,
Vishnu Vardhan (India) bt Rubin Statham 6-2 6-7(5) 6-4 6-2,
Vishnu Vardhan/Divij Sharan (India) bt Dan King-Turner/Michael Venus (New Zealand) 6-7(5) 6-4 3-6 7-6(5) 3-6,
Yuki Bhambri (India) bt Rubin Statham (New Zealand) 2-6 7-5 7-5(5),
Sanam Singh (India) bt Artem Sitak (New Zealand) 6-4 6-1.