The New Zealand Davis Cup tennis team has been beaten in its Asia-Oceania Group 1 relegation playoff against Taiwan in Taipei.
After Saturday's come from behind victory in the vital doubles clash to keep the tie alive, Taiwan scored a 3-2 overall victory with a win in the first of the reverse singles.
The home team sealed the result as Liang-Chi Huang defeated Dan King-Turner 3-6 6-7 1-6, though the New Zealanders won the late dead singles rubber as Artem Sitak defeated Tsung -Hua Yang 6-1 7-6.
The loss means that after a year back in the strong Group One of Asia-Oceania in Davis Cup, New Zealand drops to Group Two and will play Lebanon away next February.