Kiwi tennis No 2 Dan King-Turner has lost a five-set thriller in the opening tie of New Zealand's Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group I relegation playoff in Chandigarh, India today.

Turner gave up a two-set lead to fall to the Indian No 1 and former world No 1 junior player Yuki Bhambri 6-3, 6-0, 2-6, 4-6, 2-6 in hot and humid conditions in the first match of the tie.

King-Turner has an ATP singles ranking of 382, while Bhambri was ranked 179.

Kiwi No 1 Rubin Statham will face Indian No 2 Vishnu Vardhan in the next match of the tie today before the doubles are played tomorrow and the reverse singles on Sunday.

Schedule

Rubin Statham v Vishnu Vardhan

Saturday: Day Two 6.30pm (NZT)

Doubles: Artem Sitak/Michael Venus v Vishnu Vardhan and Sanam Singh

Sunday: Day Three reverse singles 4.30pm (NZT)

Rubin Statham v Yuki Bhambri, followed by Dan King-Turner v Vishnu Vardhan.

- nzherald.co.nz