Tennis: Andy Murray and Laura Robson lose decider in Perth

• Andy Murray and Laura Robson lost 6-4, 6-2 in their Group B clash to France and can't now qualify for the final. Picture: Getty Images

Robson had lost her singles match to Kristina Mladenovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-0 before Murray levelled the game with a 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5) win over Nicolas Mahut to set up a deciding match against the pair. However, they were comprehensively beaten 6-4, 6-2 in their Group B clash.

The defeat means Great Britain cannot now qualify for the final despite still having a match remaining against the United States.

The women's singles saw two top juniors in Mladenovic and Robson meet for the first time as professionals with each player having posted one victory apiece on the junior circuit.

Mladenovic dropped the first two games to Robson, but bounced back to lead 5-3 and then to win the set 6-4.

The British 16-year-old fought back to win the second set, but Mladenovic's powerful game came to the fore in the deciding third as she won it 6-0.

Murray then had to beat Mahut to keep the tie alive, and the Frenchman raised his game higher than his ranking of 132 would suggest. Both sets went to a tie-break with Mahut fully pushing Murray, but the world No 4 won the first set tie-break 7-3 and then the second 7-5.

Murray said: "There was a big contrast in styles with his serve and volley setting up a lot of passing shots and short sharp rallies, but it was a really, really fun match.

"I love it. I wish more guys would play serve and volley. I grew up playing my brother (Jamie] who would always serve and volley against us, so I got used to it from a young age. But I've played Nicolas a few times and they've always been tough matches, but I was lucky to come through.

"The first set he obviously got ahead early and then I managed to get back into the second set. I went ahead and he managed to get back into it, so there was a lot of momentum shifts in the match."

It took the match into a decider but France were dominant with Great Britain enjoying little success. The British pair only had a 60 per cent success rate with their first serves in contrast to their opponents' 75 per cent.

Robson and Murray also produced five double faults and of their four break points they converted just one The match was over in one hour and 29 minutes.