New Zealand end Billie Jean King Cup campaign on a high

New Zealand has finished fifth in Asia Oceania Group 2 of the Billie Jean King Cup after winning their final tie against Indonesia 2-1 in Antalya.

Erin Routliffe and Paige Hourigan won a thrilling deciding doubles rubber 6-3 4-6 7-6(3) over Jessy Rompies and Aldila Sutjiadi to gain some consolation after the defeat by India 24 hours earlier ensured the Kiwis would drop to Asia Oceania Group 2 with Indonesia for 2023.

Earlier 17-year-old Vivian Yang won the first point for New Zealand with a 7-5 6-2 win over Beatrice Gumulya in 1 hour 30. Captain Marina Erakovic had handed the rookie lefthander her third singles match of the tournament and she didn’t disappoint. Katherine Westbury then came in for her first match of the tournament in the number one singles and was well beaten 6-1 6-1 by Aldila Sutjiadi in 51 minutes.

New Zealand had suffered 3-0 defeats to China, Japan and South Korea before a 2-1 loss to India saw them relegated.