The Indian women’s tennis team slumped to a 3-0 loss against the hosts in its second Billie Jean King Cup 2024 Asia/Oceania Group I tie at the Moon Island Clay Park in Changsha, the People’s Republic of China on Wednesday.

In the opening match of the tie, 23-year-old Sahaja Yamalapalli, ranked 311th in the world, was outplayed 6-2, 6-3 by China’s Wang Xinyu, the world No. 43 and one half of the 2023 French Open women’s doubles champions, in one hour and 33 minutes.

World No. 255 Ankita Raina, India’s best-placed tennis player in WTA singles world rankings, also had a disappointing day on the clay courts in China as she went down 6-0, 6-0 to world No. 7 Zheng Qinwen in just over an hour.

Qinwen made the French Open 2024 women’s singles final earlier this year but lost to Aryna Sabalenka.

China completed the sweep with Guo Hanyu and Wang Xiyu beating Indian tennis players Prarthana Thombare and Rutuja Bhosale 6-1, 6-1 in a 56-minute-long dead doubles rubber.

India had also faced a 3-0 defeat to China when they last met in the Billie Jean King Cup 2023.

The Indian tennis team, now placed fourth in Asia/Oceania Group I, will take on Chinese Taipei next in the Billie Jean King Cup 24 on Thursday.

India need to finish in the top two to earn qualification to the play-offs while a bottom-two finish in the six team group will see them relegated to Group II for next season.