Japan advance in style in Davis Cup

KOBE, Japan: Kei Nishikori defeated Denis Istomin in a four-set thriller as Japan stormed to a 4-1 win over Uzbekistan to reach the play-offs for the Davis Cup World Group on Sunday.

Nishikori, who also won his first singles and doubles matches, scored a 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 6-4, 6-3 victory in the best-of-five contest of the Asia-Oceania zone Group One second-round tie.

In the shortened final dead rubber, Go Soeda whipped Sarvar Ikramov 7-5, 6-0 to complete the emphatic scoreline.

Istomin gave Uzbekistan the perfect start by beating Tatsuma Ito in the opener on Friday, but Farrukh Dustov retired with dehydration against Nishikori, who along with Soeda won the doubles on Saturday.

The play-off for the World Group will be played September 16-18.