The New Zealand tennis team greets Luxembourg ahead of the Davis Cup World Group II tie in Palmerston North. Photo: Tennis NZ
Luxenbourg have staved off a gutsy New Zealand challenge to win the Davis Cup tennis tie 3-2 in Palmerston North.
New Zealand were on the brink after trailing the visitors 2-nil when KP Pannu and Ajeet Rai lost their singles matches on Saturday.
But New Zealand kept the World Group Two tie alive when Rai and Finn Reynolds defeated Rafael Calzi and Gilles Kremer 6-3 6-2 in 56 minutes in the opening doubles match on Sunday.
Rookie Jack Loutit then upset Luxembourg No 1 Chris Rodesch 7-5 6-4 in his very first Davis Cup match, to level the tie 2-all.
But in the deciding singles tie Alex Knaff beat New Zealand's Rubin Statham 6-3 6-2.
Beating Rodesch, who was on a 16-match winning streak, was Loutit's biggest win to date in his career.
New Zealand captain Artem Sitak showed his faith in the 20-year-old Aucklander to select him for his maiden Davis Cup match, which had so much riding on it.
Loutit rewarded that confidence by playing tenacious tennis, going for his shots and using his footwork to stay in points until an opportunity presented itself.
Statham was expected to play Sunday's doubles but New Zealand's Davis Cup tennis captain Artem Sitak decided to bring Rai in to play alongside doubles specialist Reynolds.
Against players with significantly lower rankings, Rai and Reynolds looked confident right from the beginning of the match.
Even though there was only one break of serve in the opening set, on Kremer's serve, it always seemed likely that the first set would go their way.
It was Statham's final appearance for the New Zealand Davis Cup team. The 37-year-old plans to continue playing next season, but has decided that after making his debut for his country in 2005, he feels the time is right to stand aside.