Taipei, March 6 (CNA) Taiwan rallied on the last day of the Davis Cup in Shanghai but was eventually disappointed after suffering a 3-2 defeat to China in the Asia/Oceania Group 1 tie of the competition Sunday.
The setback was Taiwan's first loss to China in Davis Cup history. Taiwan beat China 3-2 in the Asia/Oceania Group 2 semifinal in 2003 and had another 3-2 win in the Group 1 relegation playoffs first round in 2007.
Yang Tsung-hua, ranked the world's No. 308 in men's singles, lost to world No. 368 Wu Di of China 6-3, 6-2, 2-6, 6-0 in the decisive singles match Sunday at the Xianxia Tennis Center, ending Taiwan's hopes.
Earlier in the day, Lu Yen-hsun -- Taiwan's top-ranked player on the men's ATP Tour at No. 42 -- outmatched world No. 299 Gong Maoxin in straight sets 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 to tie the score at 2-2 following Taiwan's disastrous showing in the first day of the tournament on Friday.
China stunned Taiwan in the opening day singles to take a 2-0 lead, with Gong beating Yang 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 8-6 in five hours and Wu shocking Lu 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 7-5, 9-7, leaving Taiwan trailing 2-0 in a best-of-five tie.
The opening-day singles losses forced team captain Ho Kuo-long to change his lineup, replacing the duo of Chen Ti and Yi Chu-huan with the Lu-Yang combo. Taiwan ended up playing Lu and Yang in all five matches.
Lu teamed up with Yang for the men's doubles Saturday and beat the duo of Gong and Li Zhe 7-5, 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-5) in three hours and 44 minutes to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Taiwan has never advanced to the World Group, the tournament's top tier in which 16 countries compete. Taiwan's best Davis Cup performances were in 2005, 2006 and 2009, when it reached the second round in Group 1 of the Asia/Oceania Zone
Lu's singles victory Sunday was his first win this year, but he remains winless on the men's ATP tour, losing all six matches he has played. (By Chris Wang) ENDITEM/J