Nishikori propels Japan back into Davis Cup world group

Kei Nishikori banished his US Open demons to propel Japan back into the Davis Cup world group with a 3-2 comeback victory over Colombia on Sunday. Nishikori rediscovered his mojo after a shock first-round exit in the United States earlier this year, showing the kind of form which swept him to the Japan Open title a year ago as he overpowered Santiago Giraldo 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to level the tie for the home team. Teammate Go Soeda held his nerve to beat Alejandro Falla 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, triggering wild celebrations.

Andy Murray secured Britain’s return to the Davis Cup World Group after a five-year absence when he defeated Croatia’s Ivan Dodig 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in a playoff rubber at Umag on Sunday. That made the match score 3-1 in Britain’s favour with just the second of the reverse singles to follow. Wimbledon and Olympic champion Murray won his opening singles on Friday and teamed up with Colin Fleming to win the doubles on Saturday.

US Open champion Rafael Nadal teamed up with Marc Lopez to give Spain an unassailable 3-0 lead over Ukraine in their Davis Cup World Group playoff on Saturday. The Spanish pair beat Denys Molchanov and Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-2, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 6-4 in just over three hours to ensure the five-time champions will remain amongst the world’s top 16 nations next year.

Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych led holders Czech Republic to a third Davis Cup final in five years after breezing past Argentina’s Carlos Berlocq and Horacio Zeballos in Saturday’s doubles. Stepanek and Berdych won 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in two hours and three minutes.