KEY POINTS:
It's another case of 'what might have been' for New Zealand's Davis Cup tennis team.
They face another year in the lowly Asia Oceania Group Two after blowing a 2-nil opening day lead to lose 3 - 2 to China in New Plymouth.
After winning their opening singles rubbers, New Zealand lost the doubles clash before a disastrous day of reverse singles matches sealed the result after Rubin Statham had earlier pulled out of his match with injury.
Dan King-Turner lost the first of the reverse singles to Bai Yan 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 while GD Jones, who replaced Statham, went to five sets against Peng Sun before going down 6-3, 6-7, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
New Zealand team manager Alistair Hunt says while they are understandably upset, they will learn from the experience and come back stronger.
New Zealand has been out of Asia Oceania Group One since 2004 and will stay in Group Two with the likes of minnows Oman and Kuwait next year.
- NEWSTALK ZB
