Taiwan on Thursday slumped to their second Fed Cup Asia/Oceania Group I 3-0 defeat against Uzbekistan after also losing to South Korea on Wednesday at the National Tennis Center in Astana, Kazakhstan, to sit bottom of Pool B and are almost certain to face a nail-biting relegation playoff today.
Sabina Sharipova of Uzbekistan defeated Taiwan’s Yang Chia-hsien 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 in the opening singles rubber, before Nigina Abduraimova battled back from a set down to overcome Taiwan’s Chan Chin-wei 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.
In the doubles, Uzbekistan’s Abduraimova and Arina Folts defeated Taiwan’s Chan and Juan Ting-fei 6-0, 4-6, 6-4.
In the other Pool B match on Thursday, a strong China team defeated South Korea 3-0.
RELEGATION SHOWDOWN
Taiwan were due to play China yesterday and barring a shock 3-0 victory they face a relegation playoff against Pool A’s bottom side Indonesia today that will see the losers relegated to Asia/Oceania Group II.
In Pool A on Wednesday, Indonesia fell to their second 3-0 defeat against hosts Kazakhstan.
The top teams in both pools compete today in a promotion playoff for the right to advance to World Group II.
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