Aussies blank India in Fed Cup

India were relegated to the Fed Cup Asia/Oceania Zone group II after top seeds Australia blanked them 3-0 in their third and final group I match in Bangkok on Friday.

After successive defeats to Indonesia and New Zealand in pool A, India again missed the services of Sania Mirza as Australia gave them a sound thrashing.

Isha Lakhani started the proceedings for the Indians. She wasted a one-set lead and went down 6-3, 4-6, 1-6 to Jessica Moore.

Sunitha Rao was next up but the US-based player was swept aside 3-6, 5-7 by Casey Dellacqua.

The 2-0 Aussie lead made the doubles tie inconsequential, but the top seeds were in no mood to concede even an inch as Dellacqua and Rennae Stubbs beat Sunitha and Shikha Uberoi 7-6(2), 6-0 to complete the rout.

In the other group matches, Taiwan defeated Thailand 3-0, New Zealand blanked Indonesia 3-0, Uzbekistan thrashed Hong Kong 2-1.