Australia's Fed Cup campaign has been ended at the first hurdle, with holders the Czech Republic moving into the semi-finals after winning their tie in Ostrava.
With the Czechs leading 2-0 heading into Sunday's matches, world number eight Petra Kvitova prevailed in a lengthy struggle with Samantha Stosur to give her country an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Kvitova eventually won 2-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 in two hours and five minutes, but had to stave off a match point for Stosur in the second set that would have kept the Aussies in the tie.
Wimbledon champion in 2011, Kvitova served for the match at 5-3 in the third but Stosur bravely broke back, before losing serve in the next game to the delight of the Czech fans.
Kvitova had given the Czechs a winning start to the contest on Saturday, beating Jarmila Gajdosova 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 before Lucie Safarova's 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-4) win over Stosur had the home country on the cusp of a win.
Safarova's return singles match with Gajdosova was not played, and the Czechs made the final score 4-0 when Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka accounted for Casey Dellacqua and Ashleigh Barty 6-0 7-6 (7-1) in the dead doubles rubber.
Australia now go into the draw with other World Group first-round losers and World Group II winners for the World Group play-off, which will place on April 20 and 21.