21 September,2009 08:24 AM IST | | AFP
World number three Andy Murray and Great Britain were relegated to the third tier of world tennis on Sunday after a 3-2 defeat against Poland condemned them to the Europe/Africa Zone Group II.
Murray had drawn Britain level at 2-2 with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Jerzy Janowicz in the day's first singles rubber at Liverpool's Echo Arena.
But teenager Dan Evans, playing in his first Davis Cup tie, was no match for Michal Przysiezny and a 6-2, 6-1, 7-5 defeat sealed a fourth consecutive defeat for Britain, who will now play in the third tier for the first time since 1996, and only the second time ever.
Murray admitted relegation had left Britain in their rightful place after so many disappointing performances. "Now at last we're where we deserve to be," Murray said. "We clearly aren't good enough to be playing against these teams; with or without me we're struggling to win matches."
