Rastogi, Shokeen lose reverse singles too

Davis Cup debutants Karan Rastogi and Vivek Shokeen put up a spirited fight but failed to take India into the second round of the Asia-Oceania Zone Group I competition after it lost 1-4 to Uzbekistan on Sunday.

The Indian challenge was ground to dust on the red mud in the small town of Namangan by Denis Istomin and Farrukh Dustov.

With all hopes resting on Rastogi to level the tie, after India had closed the gap by winning Saturday's doubles, the 20-year-old from Mumbai made a solid start before going down 7-6, 7-5, 6-1 to top Uzbek Istomin in the reverse singles.

Dustov defeated of Shokeen 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 in the dead fifth rubber.

India, who have now lost in the first round for the second successive year, will face Kazakhstan in the relegation play-off. The venue will be decided later by the toss of a coin.

The depleted Indian side had got off on the wrong foot, going down 1-2 on the first day of the tie. But Leander Paes' experience pulled them back in the doubles in a marathon five-setter. Sunil Kumar Sipaeya and Paes beat Dustov/Istomin 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3.

With top Indian players Rohan Bopanna and Harsh Mankad opting out of national duty to gather some ATP points on the Tour the chances of making it to the World Group again got bleaker for the team.

India last played in the elite group in 1998, and were only a step away in 2005 when they lost to Sweden on home turf in the World Group play-offs.