Paradorn, starting the match after eight losses from eight matches on clay this season, failed to convert any of his five break point opportunities and lost to the 115th-ranked Alexander Waske 6-4 7-5 7-6 (14-12) after two hours and 28 minutes.

Thailand were 2-1 down by Saturday.

Waske, who hit 18 aces to only seven from the Thai, was a substitute for German No 1 Tommy Haas, who suffered a leg injury during the first rubber against Danai Udomchoke on Friday.

Paradorn's defeat gave the German team a victory in the play-offs tie regardless of the result of the fifth rubber in which Florian Mayer ousted Thai doubles player Sanchai Ratiwatana 6-1 6-3 in only 45 minutes. Sanchai replaced Danai.

Germany beat Thailand 4-1 and will return to the elite World Group next year. Thailand has played in the World Group Play-offs four times over the past five years, but has yet to move beyond this stage after losses to England in 2002, the Czech Republic in 2003 and Russia in 2004.

Assistant team supervisor Sombat Eummongkol said even though Paradorn lost two matches, he tried his best.

"He was playing really great but clay is not his favourite surface. He tried his best out there," said Sombat, a former Davis Cup player.

"We lost the tie but we did a good job. At least we won a point."