Colombia defeated Canada in the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Americas Zone Group I second-round tie on Sunday after world No. 93 Santiago Giraldo won the fourth rubber against rookie Steven Diez (Toronto) 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. Colombia only needed one more victory to take the best-of-five series after entering the day leading 2-1.

Canada’s captain Martin Laurendeau made a line-up change for the final day of competition, putting 18-year-old Diez into action in place of Peter Polansky (Thornhill, Ontario) who dropped the opening rubber in straight sets on Friday. Diez joined Tennis Canada and its national team program in December from Spain where he had lived and trained for 10 years. As a natural clay court player, Diez had a very impressive training camp with the team leading Laurendeau to name him as the fourth player prior to the official draw earlier in the week.

Diez’s Davis Cup debut for his native country started out strong as he broke Giraldo’s serve in the first game of the match, but he was unable to sustain that energy and level of play. Giraldo capitalized on nearly every break point opportunity he was given displaying his advantage in experience.

The fifth match between Milos Raonic (Thornhill, Ontario) and Juan-Sebastian Cabal is considered a dead rubber as it does not affect the outcome of the tie.

Canada will now play a second-round play-off tie in September to keep their place in Americas Zone Group I for 2011. Colombia advances to a World Group play-off tie in September for the chance to qualify for the World Group in 2011. Only 16 countries entered in Davis Cup competition will qualify for the elite World Group.

Other scores from Davis Cup World Group and Americas Zone first-round action are available at www.daviscup.com.

AMERICAS ZONE GROUP I SECOND ROUND

COLOMBIA defeated CANADA 3-1

Venue: Club Campestre El Rancho, Bogota (clay-outdoors)

Results through four rubbers:

R1: Carlos Salamanca (COL) d. Peter Polansky (CAN) 6-4, 6-3, 6-2

R2: Santiago Giraldo (COL) d. Milos Raonic (CAN) 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4

R3: Daniel Nestor/Milos Raonic (CAN) d. Alejandro Falla/Juan-Sebastian Cabal (COL) 7-6(4), 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3

R4: Santiago Giraldo (COL) d. Steven Diez (CAN) 6-3, 6-3, 6-3