Australia to host Japan

Australia will host Japan in May in the next round of the Asia Oceania Zone Group I Davis Cup following its successful tie against Taiwan which became a 5-0 clean sweep on Sunday at Margaret Court Arena.

After the Aussie doubles combination of Carsten Ball and Paul Hanley sealed the deal on Saturday to hand the hosts an unassailable 3-0 lead with a straight-sets win over Tsung-Hua Yang and Chu-Huan Yi, Peter Luczak and Bernard Tomic made sure Taiwan would leave these shores empty-handed in the reverse singles on Sunday.

Luczak firstly accounted for Tsung-Hua Yang 6-3 6-3 before Tomic was made to work a little harder before clinching 6-7 (4-7) 6-0 6-3 triumph against Hsin-Han Lee.

"I think we've got a group that is starting to evolve," captain John Fitzgerald said.

"This year we believe we can get back into the World Group if everything goes our way, if Lleyton (Hewitt) is fit and Bernard keeps improving."

"I think there's a lot of untapped ability yet in Carsten."

Tomic thoroughly enjoyed his first Davis Cup outing

"It's amazing to have a start like this," he said. "I will always remember this."