China won both reverse singles matches yesterday to clinch a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over New Zealand in their Asia-Oceania Group Two Davis Cup final in New Zealand.
China, which earned promotion to Group One next season, trailed 0-2 after losing both opening singles on Friday but kept the final alive when it won Saturday's doubles in New Plymouth.
Yesterday, Bai Yan beat Dan King-Turner 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 to tie the final, before Peng Sun beat GD Jones 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in the decisive match that lasted almost four hours.
Jones was a late replacement for New Zealand No. 2 Rubin Statham, who was sidelined with an undisclosed injury.
Peng won the first and third sets, but Jones tenaciously fought back on both occasions to level the match. The Chinese player achieved a decisive early service break in the final set, led 5-2 and served out the match at his first opportunity.
Bai's strong performance yesterday was a big turnaround after his four-set loss to Statham on Friday.
"I was a bit more relaxed for this game," Bai said. "His (King-Turner's) ranking is like 300, he's a good player but I've never played him before, so I was a little bit relaxed."
On Saturday, Zeng Shaoxuan and Yu Xinyuan beat King-Turner and Jones 6-2, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.
On Friday, Statham defeated Bai 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 and King-Turner beat Peng 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
New Zealand's loss returns it to Group Two next season.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily September 22, 2008)