Italy kept their hopes of playing in the Davis Cup World Group next season alive with a victory over Switzerland in the doubles in Genoa on Saturday.
Simone Bolelli and Potito Starace beat Marco Chiudinelli and Stanislas Wawrinka 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) to reduce their deficit in matches to 2-1.
Switzerland had won both the opening singles in straight sets on Friday but rested Roger Federer for the doubles.
Meanwhile, Britain were facing relegation to Group Two of the Euro/Africa Davis Cup zone despite the presence of world No. 3 Andy Murray on their team after Poland won Saturday’s doubles to take a 2-1 lead in their playoff match in Liverpool.
Murray partnered Ross Hutchins despite aggravating a wrist injury in his singles victory on Friday but the duo were still beaten 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 by experienced Polish pair Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski
Britain needed Murray and Dan Evans to win both reverse singles yesterday, assuming Murray was fit enough to play, to avoid dropping below Euro/Africa zone Group One for the first time in 13 years.
China won both Davis Cup reverse singles matches yesterday to beat Thailand 4-1 and retain its place in Asia/Oceania Group I.
China saw off a match point in the doubles on Saturday, coming from two sets down to win and take a 2-1 lead.
In yesterday’s opener, Zeng Shaoxuan beat Thai No.1 Danai Udomchoke 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to secure the tie in China’s favor.
China’s Gong Maoxin defeated Kittiphong Wachiramanowong 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 in the remaining match in Jiaxing.
Thailand are relegated to Group II for next year, replaced by the Philippines, who were promoted with a 4-1 win over New Zealand.
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