Taiwan survived another season in Fed Cup Asia/Oceania Group I yesterday after a 2-1 victory in their relegation playoff with Hong Kong in Guangzhou, China.
In the first singles rubber on the hard courts at the Guangdong Olympic Tennis Center, Taiwan’s Chan Yung-jan cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 win over Wu Ho Ching, before Hsieh Su-wei rallied after losing the first set to down Zhang Ling 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the second singles to ensure Taiwan remained in Group I, relegating Hong Kong to Asia/Oceania Group II next year.
In the dead doubles rubber, Taiwan’s Chan and Lee Ya-hsuan were leading 6-2, 1-0 before retiring and handing Hong Kong their solitary point of the week’s play in Guangzhou.
Photo: AFP
In the match for a chance to seek promotion in April’s World Group II playoffs, top seeds Japan claimed a 2-0 victory over Kazakhstan.
Misaki Doi cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Yulia Putintseva in the first singles rubber, before Kurumi Nara rallied from a set down to complete a 2-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 win over Yaroslava Shvedova in the second singles rubber. The doubles rubber was not played.
In an injury-plagued battle for third place, China cruised to a 2-1 victory over South Korea.
China’s Wang Qiang eased to a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Lee So-ra in the first singles rubber. In the second, China’s Zheng Saisai retired with the score at 2-2 to hand Choi Ji-hee the point and South Korea hope, before South Korea’s Han Na-lae and Jang Su-jeong failed to appear for the doubles rubber, giving China a walkover and the 2-1 win.
“I’ve never played so many games before,” Wang told the Fed Cup Web site. “I’ll go to Thailand tonight for next event, hope I can have a quick recovery very soon.”
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