Image source, Getty Images

The World Group first round begins again in late January, early February 2015.

Great Britain will be there, the BBC will be there, I trust you will too.

And it definitely won't be defeat in Vilnius like in 2010. For that we can all be glad.

Jonathan Overend
BBC Sport commentator

"It's a terrific effort by Great Britain to make the quarter-finals in the first place considering where they were a couple of years ago. The Great Britain team is on the court and it looks like it hurts. I'm sure it does."

Dominic Inglot
British doubles player talking to BBC TV

"Andy Murray is a two-time Grand Slam champion and an Olympic champion. Fognini is very good on clay, but I honestly thought it was going to be a lot closer. I don't think we mis-read it, it just wasn't Great Britain's day."

Andreas Seppi tells BBC Sport that he was nervous ahead of his match with James Ward because of the weight of expectation on his shoulders. "Everyone was expecting me to win," he adds. Of course I was nervous, but I thought I handled it well.

"I managed to serve well in the last game. I went on the court after a big win by Fabio so that gave me confidence. It's Italy's first semi-final after a lot of years. Our team has been growing over the years and now we are tough to beat, especially at home on clay."

Jess Long:, external Great fight from Ward but the Italians were just too strong. A lot of pressure on Murray to perform like in every tie

Lord of Winterfell:, external Devastated that we're not in the Semi Finals... It was hard to see us not winning the tie this morning

It may be defeat, but it is defeat in the quarter-finals of the World Group. Compared to where Great Britain where just a few years ago this is the promised land.

Beating the United States last time out means that Great Britain are assured a crack at the top-tier again next year.

They won't have top-drawer back-up singles player to Andy Murray, but with a more favourable run at home or off the clay, they might not need it to improve on a run to the last eight.

John Lloyd
Former British number one on BBC TV

"I would have said at the start of the day that it was almost impossible to lose six sets today. James Ward played ok, but there was a lot of errors. Seppi was ready to go at times but Ward didn't threaten him enough."

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent, courtside in Naples

"Italian celebrations going on right now on the court after winning all six sets played today."

Blue tracksuits flood across the red clay, a big-lunged lady singing something operatic blasts out of the tannoy and Andy Murray watches on like he has just come home to a 'present' from Maggie May and Rusty on his Persian rug.

What nerves?

Andreas Seppi climbs into a forehand down the line, hitting it as sweetly as any shot struck in the match for 30-0.

A ripped off-forehand is just as nice for 40-0.

Ward hangs tough in an extended rally, coming to the net and watching Seppi's forehand down the line fly just long.

It is a momentary reprieve. Ward's return floats over the baseline and Naples is bouncing...

Jonathan Overend
BBC Sport commentator

"Credit to James Ward. He is hanging on. The nerves are there to see from Seppi."

Break and match point for Andrea Seppi at 30-40. The ringleaders in the crowd are already planning their celebrations, but their man spoons a backhand return long from a second serve.

To deuce and another elementary error from Seppi allows Ward through to another game.

Seppi is sipping isotonic courtside. The bottle he needs isn't an energy drink though. He serves for the tie next.

Jonathan Overend
BBC Sport commentator

"I'm afraid Seppi cannot believe his luck. It's the consistency that is lacking on the day for Ward. It's no good if one decent point is followed by an error."

Paula Clewlow on Twitter:, external Too many errors by James Ward. Needed to up his game.

Andreas Seppi, with hands as soft as a princess, delivers a drop-shot winner for 40-15. James Ward is well in a rally at 40-30 and the crowd are starting to fidget, but the Londoner plants one into the net.

Italy are one game away. The last game is the toughest though. Seppi may well prefer to do it with a break.

James Ward's serve digs him out of a spot of bother, two break points saved and he holds with a clenched fist.

It was his wayward serve that put him in trouble in the first place so it is only fair that it repaid him a bit.

Dominic Inglot
British doubles player talking to BBC TV

"The long road back starts here."

Andreas Seppi has either a minor hiccup or a major breakdown. Only time will tell but he flops to 0-40 and then gets the rough end of marginal call to seal his fate in the game. James Ward seemed to get a little help from the crowd with a voice from courtside advising him that it was worth getting Pascal Maria out of his chair to have a look at that one.

Right now he needs all the help he can get.

Jonathan Overend
BBC Sport commentator

"You have to give Seppi credit. At times he has looked decidedly shaky but he has played his best tennis in this third set. Italy are on their way to the semi-finals, it seems.

"It must be so hard for Ward to keep believing. He doesn't want to be embarrassed by a one sided set. He's better than that."

What is this though? A sudden rain shower hits Naples tennis club. They are going to play on but if it gets much heavier Ward could be saved, or at least spared for the time being, by the weather.