Davis Cup: Romania relegates from Group I of Europe-Africa zone

Romania has relegated from Group I of Europe-Africa zone of the Davis Cup following the defeat in the doubles event on Saturday, as the Israeli pair Dudi Sela/Jonathan Erlich has defeated the Romanian pair Vasile Antonescu/Bogdan Borza 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4), and the team of Israel has defeated Romania 3-0 at Ramat Hasharon.

Romania is out of the Group I after 24 years (1993) and will play next year in Group II, the third Davis Cup echelon.

On Friday, in the singles matches, Dragoș Dima (25, 463rd ATP) was defeated by Edan Leshem (20, 285th ATP) 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, and Dudi Sela (32, 70th ATP) defeated Nicolae Frunză (20, 600th ATP) cu 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

Romania’s non-player captain Andrei Pavel could not count on the best Romanian tennis players Marius Copil, Horia Tecău and Florin Mergea. Copil is 78^th ATP in the singles, whereas Horia Tecău is 11^th in the doubles rankings and Florin Mergea is 49^th also in the doubles.