 | AUSTRIA 3-2 GREAT BRITAIN |
Great Britain were relegated from the elite Davis Cup World Group after Greg Rusedski was beaten by Stefan Koubek. The Austrian won 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 7-5 in the fifth and decisive rubber against a tired Rusedski, who had been struggling with a blister on his racket hand.
Henman had earlier kept the visitors' hopes alive by beating Jurgen Melzer, after he and Rusedski had lost the doubles held over from Saturday.
Britain find out on Thursday who they face in next year's Euro/Africa Zone.
"There's nothing worse - I don't know how many times we've lost 3-2 now," GB skipper Jeremy Bates told BBC Sport.
"We lost it earlier in the tie. It was a fantastic effort from Greg and Tim today."
And Bates insisted he would not have changed anything, despite having to choose an injured Rusedski for the decisive rubber.
|  We need the young kids to come through and help us |
"I hate losing," he said. "All the boys hate losing, but we prepared as well as we can and I wouldn't have done anything differently." The visitors made the worst possible start in Sunday morning's doubles, resuming at two sets to one down against Julian Knowle and Alexander Peya.
Henman dropped his opening service game to love as he double-faulted twice and the Austrians quickly wrapped up a 6-4 1-6 6-2 6-1 win.
A weary-looking Henman then took to the court for the first of the reverse singles but could not find the touch that had deserted him since arriving in Austria.
The Briton lost the first seven games before rousing himself but became increasingly tetchy and seemed to aim several remarks at his opponent.
But despite struggling throughout, the world number four did enough in the crucial third set tie-break to edge ahead, and closed out the match in the fourth.
Bates was left with a dilemma for the final rubber as Rusedski, who had a heavily bandaged left hand in the doubles, struggled with a blister. Alex Bogdanovic and 17-year-old Andrew Murray were the alternatives but Bates went for the experience of Rusedski.
The British number two served for the first set but was broken to love and went on to convert only three of 16 break points as he went down in straight sets.
"Stefan was a little bit too good today," said Rusedski.
"I had chances but it helps when you've got a guy who's totally fresh. He played the best of everyone and won the tie for them this weekend.
"The hand didn't make any difference. It's bleeding a little but he was the better player. They were just too good, we've got to give them credit."
And Rusedski added that Britain had suffered again for using only two players in both singles and doubles.
"We need the young kids to come through and help us," said Rusedski. "They had two fresh guys for the doubles and then the singles."
MMIX
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