Belarus defeats Japan 3-2 to advance at Fed Cup

TOKYO (AP) Victoria Azarenka and Olga Govortsova won their doubles match on Sunday as Belarus defeated Japan 3-2 in the Fed Cup World Group II playoff.

Azarenka and Govortsova beat Shuko Aoyama and Ayumi Morita 6-3, 6-4 in the decisive fifth tie at Ariake Coliseum.

Azarenka defeated Kurumi Nara 6-3, 6-3 in the first reverse singles to give Belarus a 2-1 lead but Japan pulled even when Morita outlasted Aliaksandra Sasnovich 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-4.

The result means Belarus will return to World Group II in 2016 for just the third time ever, while Japan will remain in Asia/Oceania Zone Group I.

Former top-ranked Azarenka also won her opening singles match on Saturday.