Doubles pair Ben McLachlan and Yosuke Watanuki secured victory for Japan in its Davis Cup World Group I playoff against Poland on Sunday, beating Lukasz Kubot and Jan Zielinski 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(2) to take a decisive 3-0 lead in the best-of-five tie.

Japan came into the third rubber in a commanding position thanks to singles wins by Yoshihito Nishioka and Taro Daniel the previous day at Bourbon Beans Dome in Miki, Hyogo Prefecture.

Japan's Yosuke Watanuki (L) and Ben McLachlan are in action during their doubles match against Poland's Lukasz Kubot and Jan Zielinski in a Davis Cup World Group I playoff on Feb. 5, 2023, at Bourbon Beans Dome in Miki, Hyogo Prefecture. (Kyodo)

The Polish duo claimed the first set after winning a break point to go up 3-2. McLachlan and Watanuki leveled the contest in the second set and eventually ran away with the tiebreak in the third, wrapping up the match in two and a half hours.

Japan will contest the 2023 Davis Cup World Group I in September.

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