Leon Smith's team was seeking for a repeat of their last-eight success over the same opponents two years ago, and they got off to a flying start when Dan Evans thrashed Peter Gojowczyk 6-2 6-1. However, British No. 1 Cameron Norrie lost his opening match of the week to Jan-Lennard Struff, 7-6 (7-6) 3-6 6-2, and Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz won a dramatic final doubles rubber against Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski, 7-6 (12-10) 7-6 (7-5).
Smith said: "Everyone is gutted, obviously. We've had some good days, but it's a tough day to swallow. Can't fault any of the guys' efforts or the team bench. Everyone gave their best effort. The sets could have gone either way and it could have been a different outcome. But it wasn't to be today."
Salisbury and Skupski overcame a rocky start against France on Saturday to win a key match against the Czech Republic and propel Britain to the quarterfinals for the sixth time in seven years. Krawietz and Puetz were unbeaten in group play, defeating Novak Djokovic and Nikola Cacic, and they were marginally the superior team in the first set, forcing Skupski to save a set point at 5-6. In the tie-break, Salisbury and Skupski led 6-4, but they couldn't convert any of their four set points, and with each point ratcheting up the tension, Germany struck.`
The second set followed a similar pattern, with Britain leading 5-0 in the tie-break only for Germany to score seven points in a row, causing wild celebrations. Salisbury is a four-time Grand Slam champion, but this is his first time competing in Davis Cup. He said: "They played well at the end of the second-set tie-break, but we didn't. We're 5-0 up, we should win the tie-break, simple as that. I have loved this week, loved playing for Great Britain. I think it's extra pressure, which often I feel helps me to perform well and I feel like I have played my best in some of the biggest matches that I have played. But this week that didn't happen."
On Saturday, Germany will fly to Madrid for the semi-finals, while Britain will return home and must win a qualifying fixture in early March to qualify for next year's championships.