Martina Navratilova's record of never having been on the losing side in the Fed Cup since her debut in 1975 ended with the 4-1 defeat for the U.S. against France in Sunday's final.

Navratilova, four times a winner of the Fed Cup, teamed up with Lisa Raymond to give the Americans their only point of the final but not until after France had taken an unassailable 4-0 lead.

But when she and Raymond beat French substitutes Emilie Loit and Stephanie Cohen-Aloro 6-4, 6-0, the 18-times singles Grand Slam champion took her personal record in Fed Cup rubbers to an incredible 39 wins and no losses.

"It was a heck of a ride and we did the best we could," said Navratilova, who this week at 47 also became the oldest player to compete in Fed Cup."We had two close matches yesterday and I'm very proud of my team."

Navratilova made her Fed Cup debut for Czechoslovakia in 1975 and helped her native country to the title that year. Later, playing for adopted home the United States, she experienced triumphs in 1982, 1986 and 1989.