China’s Wu Di edged out Taiwan’s Wang Yeu-tzuoo to give China a 3-2 win in the Davis Cup Oceania Group 1 relegation playoff in the southern city of Kaohsiung in Taiwan on Sunday.
In the first match of the day, Taiwan’s Yang Tsung-hua beat China’s Zhang Ze 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, bringing the tie level 2-2 with one match left to play.
But the island’s hope of staging a gutsy comeback was dashed when 495th ranked Wu caused the upset of the playoff, beating 178th ranked Wang 6-4, 7-6 (4/0), 7-6 (4/0).
“Wu Di was not aggressive in the match but my performance today was a disappointment,” Wang told reporters.
Taiwan will now face the losing team of another first round playoff between India and New Zealand. If they fail to win that tie, which takes place in October, they will be relegated to Group II in 2013.