Solid comeback for Keothavong as Britain end Fed Cup with win

GREAT Britain ended a mixed Fed Cup campaign with a win over Belarus in Lisbon - but they won't progress to the weekend's play-offs.

COMEBACK CONTINUES: Anne Keothavong beat Ekaterina Dzehalevich as Great Britain got the better of Belarus, 2-1, at the Fed Cup in Portugal (Getty Images)

After an opening victory over Bosnia-Hercegovina, Nigel Sears's team saw their hopes evaporate after going down to Austria, who they needed to slip up against Bosnia today to stand a chance of progressing.

Austria duly won 3-0 but Britain still concluded their campaign in style taking advantage after Victoria Azarenka, the Belarusian ranked sixth in the world, who withdrew due to illness.

Anne Keothavong continued her comeback from a six month injury lay-off with a 7-6, 6-1 win over Azarenka's replacement, Ekaterina Dzehalevich.

British number two Katie O'Brien lost 6-3 6-3 to world number 55 Olga Govortsova but Elena Baltacha and Sarah Borwell secured a comeback 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 win over Govortseva and Tatiana Poutchek.

Austria will progress from Great Britain's group to the weekend play-offs, where two teams will earn promotion to the second tier World Group II.

Action begins in the four first round World Group matches on Saturday with Ukraine taking on Italy, the Czech Republic playing Germany, Serbia clashing with Russia and France hosting the United States.