Davis Cup holders Argentina relegated

Mikhail Kukushkin beat U.S. Open quarter-finalist Diego Schwartzman 6-4 6-4 7-6(2) to give the home team an unassailable 3-1 lead and promotion in their playoff tie.

Dmitry Popko did not turn out for the dead rubber against Guido Pella.

The Argentines, who won their first title 10 months ago, were without leading players Juan Martin del Potro and Federico Delbonis and will play in the Group One Americas zone next year.

"Schwartzman did everything he could to switch the momentum, he fought really hard but in the big moments Mikhail played unbelievable tennis. He's the hero of this tie," Kazakh captain Dias Doskarayev told the tournament website (www.daviscup.com).

The Argentines, who won their first title 10 months ago, were without leading players Juan Martin del Potro and Federico Delbonis, who both opted not to play having helped their country to win the 2016 final against Croatia in Zagreb.

They will play in the Group One Americas zone next year.

"We've got to let some time pass and think what each one of us could have done better... those of us who came here and those who didn't," said world number 28 Schwartzman.

"We'll have good chances of getting back into the world group," he was quoted as saying by the Argentine daily La Nacion.