Bulgaria have won the Davis Cup tennis tie against New Zealand at Wilding Park in Christchurch by three matches to one.
Ajeet Rai of New Zealand during his Davis Cup match. Wilding Park, Christchurch, New Zealand. Saturday 4 February 2023. Photo: Chris Symes / www.photosport.nz
Bulgaria held a 2-0 advantage heading into day two of the World Group 1 Play-Off Davis Cup tie.
Experienced New Zealand duo Michael Venus and Artem Sitak kept the tie alive by beating Alexander Donski and Petr Nesterov 6-4 3-6 6-3 in the lone doubles match of the tie.
In the fourth match of the tie the rain set in moments after New Zealand number one Ajeet Rai broke the serve of Dimitar Kuzmanov early in the first set in the reverse singles.
After a three hour rain delay play resumed and Kuzmanov took the first set.
The tenacious Rai hit back to take the second set 7-5.
The match ticked past three hours and the more experienced Kuzmanov had to dig deep to win 6-3 5-7 6-4.
Bulgaria will play in World Group 1 in September while New Zealand heads to World Group 2.