Keothavong and Watson lose singles matches
Great Britain lost their first Fed Cup match of 2011 when they went down 2-1 to Switzerland in Eilat, Israel.
Heather Watson and Anne Keothavong both lost in straight sets to higher-ranked players, before Watson teamed up with Jocelyn Rae to pinch the doubles rubber.
Watson made her debut in the event after Elena Baltacha withdrew but crashed 6-1 6-3 to world number 46 Timea Bacsinszky.
And Keothavong fared even worse against former top-10 player Patty Schnyder, the veteran easing to victory 6-1 6-2.
Watson and Rae - also making her debut after replacing Laura Robson - then saw off Bacsinszky and Amra Sadikovic 6-4 6-3 to regain a measure of pride.
GB Fed Cup captain Nigel Sears said: "We are hugely disappointed, we were soundly beaten today by a team that played much better than us in the singles.
"Both the Swiss players are top 50 and Patty is a former top 10 player, and today they showed why.
"However I'm really happy with the way that Joss and Heather played in the doubles - at least that is some consolation on a pretty rough day."
Britain are up against it in Group A of the Europe/Africa Zone after also drawing Denmark, who have current world number one Caroline Wozniacki in their ranks.
Heather Watson and Anne Keothavong both lost in straight sets to higher-ranked players, before Watson teamed up with Jocelyn Rae to pinch the doubles rubber.
Watson made her debut in the event after Elena Baltacha withdrew but crashed 6-1 6-3 to world number 46 Timea Bacsinszky.
And Keothavong fared even worse against former top-10 player Patty Schnyder, the veteran easing to victory 6-1 6-2.
Watson and Rae - also making her debut after replacing Laura Robson - then saw off Bacsinszky and Amra Sadikovic 6-4 6-3 to regain a measure of pride.
GB Fed Cup captain Nigel Sears said: "We are hugely disappointed, we were soundly beaten today by a team that played much better than us in the singles.
"Both the Swiss players are top 50 and Patty is a former top 10 player, and today they showed why.
"However I'm really happy with the way that Joss and Heather played in the doubles - at least that is some consolation on a pretty rough day."
Britain are up against it in Group A of the Europe/Africa Zone after also drawing Denmark, who have current world number one Caroline Wozniacki in their ranks.
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