Japan's bid to return to the World Group will have to wait at least one more day, after India's Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna beat Yuichi Sugita and Tatsuma Ito 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) in their doubles match in their Davis Cup playoff tie on Saturday afternoon.
India broke Japan in the third game of the opening set and again in the 11th on the way to going ahead 1-0. Sugita, who pulled a big surprise on Friday with his victory over Somdev Devvarman in the first singles match, performed strongly throughout the match at Ariake Colosseum, but it was not enough to lift his team to victory.
Japan, which last played in the World Group in 1985, battled back in the second set, breaking the Indians in the sixth game on the way to evening up the contest.