Romania retained their place in the Davis Cup World Group after forging to an unassailable 3-1 lead in the play-off with Inida here Sunday. Leading 2-1 overnight, victory was assured when Romania's Victor Hanescu defeated Prakash Amritraj, 6-2, 6-3, 6-1
Victor Crivoi comes up against Somdev Devvarman in the remaining dead singles rubber. India were bidding for a place in the World Group for the first time since 1998 and had given themselves a lifeline, after going 2-0 down on Friday, when Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes saw off Horia Tecau and Adrian Cruciat 6-4 7-6 (7/0) 6-4 in Saturday's doubles.
Three-times finalists Romania and India have met three times in the Davis Cup. India managed a 5-0 whitewash in 1922, but the Romanians then had the upper hand with a 4-0 win in 1969 on Romanian clay and then scored a 4-1 success in 1971 in New Delhi with Ilie Nastase and Ion Tiriac proving too strong for their rivals.