(Reuters) - Davis Cup holders Argentina were relegated from the world group after 15 years among the tennis elite when they lost 3-2 to Kazakhstan in Astana on Sunday. Mikhail Kukushkin beat U.S. Open quarter-finalist Diego Schwartzman 6-4 6-4 7-6(2) to give the home team an unassailable 3-1 lead and promotion in their playoff tie a year after their relegation. Argentina became the third team to be relegated the year after winning the crown, following in the footsteps of France in 1997 and Sweden in 1999. "Schwartzman did everything he could to switch the momentum, he fought really hard but in the big moments Mikhail played unbelievable tennis. "We'll have good chances of getting back into the world group," he was quoted as saying by the Argentine daily La Nacion.

Source: The Star September 17, 2017 14:15 UTC