Tennis: New Zealand relegated in Davis Cup

Michael Venus couldn't win the decider. Photo / Photosport

New Zealand have been relegated in the Davis Cup, suffering a disappointing 3-2 defeat to South Korea in their Asia Oceania Group 1 tie in Gimcheon.

Michael Venus lost the deciding singles rubber in straight sets 7-6 (5) 6-4 to Yong-Kyu Lim, sending New Zealand back to Asia Oceania Group 2 for 2019, where they will be back amongst the minnows of Asian tennis.

The day had started brightly for the Kiwis with debutant 19-year-old Ajeet Rai teaming with the experienced Artem Sitak to win the doubles and put New Zealand 2-1 up heading into the reverse singles rubbers.

But Korean number one Duckhee Lee – who had battled to a three set win over Venus on the opening day - stamped his class on the tie with a 6-4 6-1 win over Kiwi number one Rubin Statham.

It was left to Venus to try to clinch the tie in the deciding rubber, in a far from favourable situation.

Winning a Davis Cup decider is never an easy task away from home, but especially for Venus, with the 30-year-old becoming a doubles specialist in recent years, and only playing singles in Davis Cup and at Auckland's ASB Classic.

His opponent, Lim, was a last minute replacement for Korean number two Seong-Chan Hong, and had at least some pedigree, winning an ITF singles title in June. He possessed a big serve and aggressive forehand, similar weapons to Venus, but utilised them better in the decider.

Both players never got a look in on the return of serve until the 11th game of the match when Venus had two break points on Lim's serve at 15-40, but couldn't convert. The set eventually went to a tiebreak, with Lin recovering from 3-0 down to win it 7-5 on his second set point.

The second set saw Venus' demise. Lim looked to take charge early in the second set when he broke Venus' serve for the first time to lead 2-1, but although the Kiwi immediately broke back, Lim broke again and Venus had no response.

Lim served out the match, and the tie, claiming victory for South Korea and sending New Zealand further back into international tennis obscurity.