Without injured Li Na, top-seeded China lost to Uzbekistan 3-0 in Fed Cup Asia/Oceania Group I on Friday.
Li, the Australian Open runner-up, retired with a leg cramp on Thursday and wasn't available Friday. Uzbekistan's top player, Akgul Amanmuradova, also was sidelined, with an arm injury, but Sabina Sharipova beat Tang Haochen 6-3, 6-2, then Nigina Abduraimova defeated Lu Jing Jing 4-6, 6-1, 6-1. Albina Khabibulina and Abduraimova completed the sweep by beating Tang and Lu 7-6 (8), 0-6, 6-2 in doubles.
Uzbekistan finished atop Pool A with a 6-3 record, followed by Thailand at 5-4, China 4-5 and India 3-6.
In the playoff for a slot in World Group II, Uzbekistan will face Japan, which was unbeaten in Group B.
Japan beat winless Taiwan 3-0, and Kazakhstan finished second in the group after topping South Korea 2-1.
