Germany beats Brazil 4-1 in Davis Cup playoff

ULM, Germany (AP) Daniel Brands secured Germany's Davis Cup World Group place for another year by beating Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci in their playoff on Sunday, before Florian Meyer completed a 4-1 win for the hosts.

On his Davis Cup singles debut, Brands defeated Bellucci 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 to give the Germans an unassailable lead in the best-of-five match series.

"I'm just happy that I got the third point," said the 26-year-old Brands, who played in place of Philipp Kohlschreiber. Kohlschreiber withdrew shortly beforehand with stomach problems.

Bellucci said he was laboring with a right shoulder injury.

"I didn't play well with the many chances that I had," the top-ranked Brazilian said. "He just played much better than me on the big points."

Meyer later defeated Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-4, 6-4 to complete a successful weekend for the hosts.

The Germans missed the chance to secure the result Saturday, when Brands and Martin Emmrich lost to Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares in the doubles match.

Brands said the experience of that match helped him against Bellucci.

"I was used to the atmosphere and the court. That was important. Otherwise it would have been more difficult for me," Brands said.

Kohlschreiber and Meyer won their opening singles matches on Friday.