Posted at 6:35 a.m., Sunday, July 15, 2007
Tennis: Germany rallies past Japan in Fed Cup playoff
Associated Press
TOYOTA, Japan — Tatjana Malek and Anna-Lena Groenefeld defeated Rika Fujiwara and Ayumi Morita in the deciding doubles rubber today as Germany rallied for a 3-2 victory over Japan in a Fed Cup World Group playoff.After both sides split the opening-day singles, Erika Takao put Japan ahead 2-1 with a 6-3 6-2 win over Germany's Angelique Kerber.
Germany tied the playoff when Malek defeated Morita 6-4, 6-3 in the second reverse singles match.
Malek then returned to the court to partner Groenefeld in the doubles, the final match of the best-of-five tie, defeating Morita and Fujiwara 6-3, 6-4.
Germany will now return to the World Group in 2008, with Japan to play in World Group II.
