New Zealand stay alive in Davis Cup tie against China
China lead 2-1 in the Asia/Oceania Group 1 tie against New Zealand despite losing the doubles match. They won both the opening singles on Monday, with the reverse singles matches set on Wednesday.
New Zealand's Davis Cup doubles partnership of Marcus Daniell and Michael Venus kept their Asia/Oceania Group 1 tie against China alive Tuesday with a straight-sets win against the hosts.
China lead 2-1 in the northern port of Tianjin after winning both the opening singles on Monday, with the reverse singles matches set for Wednesday.
New Zealand's Venus is ranked a lowly 384 in the world, with Daniell well back at 592, but they are still several hundred places above their Chinese opponents Gong Maoxin, 757, and Li Zhe, 845.
The visitors took the first set 6-3, won the second on a 7-3, and wrapped up the win with a 7-5 third set.
New Zealand are newly promoted to Group 1 after beating the Philippines in September, while China had to face Chinese Taipei in a relegation play-off in April to stay in the division, which proved to be a comfortable 5-0 whitewash.