Japan defeat China in Davis Cup

Japan took an insurmountable 3-0 lead over China on Saturday to move into the third round of Davis Cup play in Group I of the Asia/Oceania Zone.

Japan took an insurmountable 3-0 lead over China on Saturday to move into the third round of Davis Cup play in Group I of the Asia/Oceania Zone.

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After taking a 2-0 lead on Friday with two wins in the singles competition, Japan sealed the win in the doubles, when Takao Suzuki and Satoshi Iwabuchi easily beat Zeng Shaoxuan and Zhang Ze, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.

Japan will meet either Uzbekistan or South Korea in the third round on May 8-10. The third-round winners move on to the World Group play-offs, for a chance at a spot in the elite world competition.

On Friday, Go Soeda put Japan up 1-0 by beating Zeng 6-2, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, while Japan's ace Kei Nishikori struggled with the strong serve of Zhang, who hit 13 aces, before scoring a 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 victory.

The reverse single dead rubber matches will be played on Sunday, in a shortened three-set format.