BEIJING: China’s Davis Cup singles tennis players both came from behind to win the opening matches in the Asia/Oceania Group 1 tie against New Zealand on Monday.

In the first rubber in the northern port city of Tianjin, the home side’s Wu Di needed five sets to overcome Michael Venus, despite sitting 180 places above him in the world rankings.

World number 383 Venus took the first set but Wu, listed as 203, drew level on a tiebreak in the second, eventually winning 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, 1-6, 6-3.

In the day’s other match, the first set also went to New Zealand, with world number 287 Rubin Statham taking it on a tiebreak, before Zhang Ze, ranked 253, ran out a 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 winner.

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.

The doubles match is on Tuesday, before the reverse singles on Wednesday.—AFP