Placed in a losing position in tennis (3,4)
I believe the answer is:
set down
I believe this is a double definition.
'placed' is the first definition.
(I've seen this before)
'in a losing position in tennis' is the second definition.
(I've seen this before)
(Other definitions for set down that I've seen before include "Placed" , "is allowed to alight" , "Record in writing" , "performance in Wimbledon match?" , "Drop (passengers); write" .)