Great Britain were denied promotion to the Fed Cup's World Group II as they lost to Sweden on Sunday.
Robson loses crucial rubber as GB miss promotion chance
Great Britain were denied promotion to the Fed Cup's World Group II as they lost to Sweden on Sunday.
With Britain trailing 2-0 going into the final day of the tie, teenager Laura Robson was brought in to replace Elena Baltacha and put up a strong fight against Swedish number one Sofia Arvidsson, but was beaten 6-4 1-6 6-3 in Boras.
After a torrid start which saw Robson fall 4-0 down, the Briton battled back to level the match with some impressive hitting in the second set.
A tight decider followed but Robson was broken in the sixth game which was to prove crucial.
The former junior Wimbledon champion held three break-back points in the following game but could not convert.
Crying
She at least managed to make Arvidsson serve it out, Robson saving six match points in a marathon eighth game.
However, Arvidsson did not dwell too much on her missed opportunities and served out in the following game, clinching victory on her ninth match point.
Robson was left crying into her towel, knowing the result left GB 3-0 down with just two rubbers to play.
"I'm pretty upset but my team-mates are proud of me," she said. "Maybe in a few days I'll think it was a pretty good effort but right now I'm devastated.
"In Fed Cup you're not just playing for yourself, you're playing for your country, and all the emotion that built up on court just came through."
Judy Murray's team, who won four matches in Israel in February to set up the play-off with Sweden, will now return to Europe/Africa Group I - the third tier of the competition - in 2013.
Britain did manage to win the closing doubles rubber as Baltacha and Heather Watson beat Ellen Allgurin and Hilda Melander 7-6 (7/3) 6-1.
An upbeat Murray said of her team's failed play-off campaign: "There is a lot to be excited about with some very positive performances from the team today and we managed to get a win in the doubles, which was a great way to finish.
"We're very, very proud of Laura. She left nothing on the court and there was so little in it.
"It's back now to the 15-team division, so we just need to go back there and do it all again and if we get the chance again next year we will be prepared and ready."
