Australia closes out 5-0 victory
Australia has secured a 5-0 whitewash of Uzbekistan in the Davis Cup World Group Play-off in Perth after Sam Groth and Nick Kyrgios powered to singles wins on Sunday.
Cottesloe WA 6011, Australia, 14 September 2014 | AAP
Australia has secured a 5-0 whitewash of Uzbekistan in the Davis Cup World Group Play-off in Perth after Sam Groth and Nick Kyrgios powered to singles wins on Sunday.
Groth made a perfect start to his Davis Cup career with a 6-3 6-2 win over world No.527 Temur Ismailov in a match that lasted just 63 minutes.
Kyrgios made even lighter work of world No.736 Sanjar Fayziev, posting a 6-1 6-1 demolition in just 39 minutes.
Australia’s tie win means they have retained their spot in the elite 16-nation World Group for next year.
Uzbekistan, who are yet to reach the World Group, will have to battle it out in the Asia-Oceania Zone for another year.
Groth became the 105th player to represent Australia in Davis Cup, and his powerful serve proved too much to handle for Ismailov.
Australia never looked in trouble against Uzbekistan throughout the tie.
Lleyton Hewitt and Kyrgios stormed to singles wins on the opening day.
Hewitt and Chris Guccione then combined for a 6-3 7-6(5) 6-2 doubles victory over Denis Istomin and Farrukh Dustov on Saturday to give Australia an unassailable 3-0 lead.