Great Britain have narrowly missed out on a return to the Fed Cup’s World Group level after a tough play-off defeat by Japan on Sunday.
Johanna Konta and Heather Watson took hosts Japan right to the wire in the deciding doubles rubber at the Bourbon Beans Dome in Miki, but ultimately home advantage told as Miyu Kato and Makoto Ninomiya triumphed 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
That victory wrapped up a 3-2 success for the Japanese at the weekend-long tie, ensuring they will compete in the World Group II next year.
It was a valiant performance by captain Anne Keothavong and her team of Konta, Watson, Anna Smith, and Gabriella Taylor, who travelled to Japan after sweeping through the Euro/Africa Zone I tournament in February.
The two nations went into Sunday’s matches all square after Konta and home hope Naomi Osaka had taken a win apiece in Saturday’s singles.
Konta ensured her team would get off to the best possible start on Sunday as she nullified the dangerous Osaka - in fine form after her victory at Indian Wells last month - and wrapped up a 6-3, 6-3 win.
Watson could not repeat the success of her team-mate in the second singles match, losing in two sets to Japanese No.2 Kurumi Nara 7-6(7), 6-4.
That meant the weekend-long tie stood at 2-2 going into the deciding doubles rubber, with Keothavong opting to send Konta and Watson back onto court together.
Lining up opposite them were Japan’s doubles specialists Kato and Ninomiya, but it was Konta and Watson who stole the early march as they raced to take the opening set 6-3.
Kato and Ninomiya hit back to take the second set 6-3 after securing an early double break, meaning the entire tie would go down to the final set of the final rubber.
Just as it looked as though the final set was heading for a tense tiebreaker, Kato and Ninomiya stole a break to mark themselves as favourites to progress.
Ultimately, the Japanese duo held on for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory, meaning they will play in the World Group II next year, with Great Britain once again returning to the Euro/Africa zonal stage.