New Zealand were left with the prospect of needing to win the last three matches in their Davis Cup tie with India in Chandigarh after Rubin Statham was beaten in his singles match that had been unfinished from the first day.
Statham was beaten 6-2 6-7(5) 6-4 6-2 by Vishnu Vardhan, who had little trouble rounding off the match that had been suspended because of bad light late on the first day after the first three sets yesterday.
Dan King-Turner was beaten 3-6 0-6 6-2 6-4 6-2 by Yuki Bhambri in the first match. He had won the first two sets comfortably but strained a calf muscle at the end of the second set which hampered his movement.
India have the chance to wrap up the tie in the doubles later tonight (NZT).
The winner of the tie remains in Asia/Oceania Group I with the loser playing off against Chinese Taipei to remain in Group I.
