• Kim Birrell loses to Viktoria Hruncakova in three sets
• Ajla Tomljanovic struggles with injury in straight sets loss

Australia’s hopes of winning their first Billie Jean King Cup title in 50 years came to a crushing end on Sunday as they suffered a 2-0 defeat by Slovakia.

After Kimberly Birrell was defeated 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-3 by Slovakia’s Viktoria Hruncakova in a bruising tussle that lasted over two and a half hours, Australian No 1 Ajla Tomljanovic struggled badly with a left leg injury as she was dismantled 6-1, 6-2 by the in-form Rebecca Sramkova.