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It's now looking unlikely that Heather Watson will be in the top 56 to qualify for the Olympics.

 

Poland's Radwanska led Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova by a set and a break in their match held over from Sunday, but lost the first 10 games on the resumption, eventually going down 2-6 6-3 6-3. Tsvetana Pironkova plays Sam Stosur (seeded 21) in the quarter finals.

 

It's extraordinary that two players not in the top 100 have progressed to the quarterfinals.

El Loro
Last edited by El Loro

Shelby Rogers and Tsvetana Pironkova have both lost their quarter final matches after quite a remarkable sequence of wins in the French Open. I think that means that Heather Watson will remain in the top 56 so gets automatic qualification for the Olympics. We'll have to wait for the rankings to come out on Monday but it's looking more optimistic than it had been. It's important for GB to have Heather in the Olympics team as she's a good team person.

El Loro

Teenage British tennis star Freya Christie says making her WTA main draw debut on home territory in Nottingham is an "amazing" opportunity to show she can compete at the highest level.

 

The 18-year-old is in her first season as a professional and has been given a wildcard for the Aegon Open at the Nottingham Tennis Centre on 4-12 June.

 

"I can't wait," Christie told BBC Sport. "It will be a great experience.

 

"It's amazing it will be at my home town as well. I hope I can compete."

 

The first round gets under way on Monday, with the draw taking place on Saturday.

 

Caroline Wozniacki, Victoria Azarenka and British top three Johanna Konta, Heather Watson and Naomi Broady are all confirmed - as is former British number one Laura Robson.

 

"I don't mind who I play," said Christie. "Anyone is a challenge in this draw but the bigger the challenge the better."

 

Christie was part of the Great Britain Fed Cup squad that travelled to Israel earlier this year and reached the semi-finals of the ITF Incheon Women's Challenger - a $25,000 ITF Pro Circuit event on hard courts in South Korea - last week.

 

The Hucknall-born player has also won three ITF Pro Circuit doubles titles since November last year and was runner-up in the singles of the Aegon GB Pro-Series Shrewsbury event last year.

 

"It's my first year out of juniors and I feel like I am making good progress," she added.

 

"It's a big step - all the players are top 100 so they know what they are doing and have good experience."

El Loro

Johanna Konta has reached her highest career ranking of 18, the first British woman to break into the top 20 since Jo Durie in 1983.

 

The British number one moved up three places despite losing to German Julia Goerges in the French Open first round.

 

Durie, who won two WTA singles titles in 1983, achieved a career-high ranking of five a year later.

El Loro

Great Britain's Heather Watson and Laura Robson were knocked out in the first round of the Nottingham Open.

 

British number two Watson, 24, took the first set against Magdalena Rybarikova but went down 4-6 6-0 6-4.

 

Robson, 22, had her serve broken six times as she lost 6-3 7-5 to Portugal's Michelle Larcher de Brito.

 

Naomi Broady bowed out after a 6-2 6-1 loss to Su-Wei Hsieh, but British number four Tara Moore progressed by beating Croatia's Donna Vekic 6-2 7-5.

 

The 23-year-old joined British number one Johanna Konta in the second round, after Konta triumphed 6-3 6-0 over American Victoria Duval on Monday to set up a tie with China's Zheng Saisai. Zheng Saisai beat Freya Christie 6-4, 6-2.

 

Tara Moore will play American eighth seed Christina McHale on Thursday, having won only her second match in the main draw of a WTA event.

 

The world number 280 won an ITF event in Eastbourne last week, but may need a wildcard to play at Wimbledon.

 

"I'm still in the tournament here so I am just going to look forward to the next match I'm playing," she said.

 

"As far as the next few weeks go, I'm not sure yet. I have put in a request but it's not my decision. It's the All England Club's decision and I respect the decision."

El Loro
Last edited by El Loro

British number one Johanna Konta has been knocked out of the Nottingham Open after a second-round straight-sets defeat by Zheng Saisai.

 

Konta, ranked 18 in the world, lost 6-4 7-5 to China's Zheng, who is 44 places below her in the world rankings.

 

The Briton needed a medical time out three games into the second set for a "niggle" on her pelvis.

 

But following the match, Konta said she expected to play in the Wimbledon warm-up events in Birmingham and Eastbourne.

 

The 25-year-old was below the form which helped her become the first British woman since 1983 to break into the top 20, making four double faults and winning just 38% of points on her second serve.

 

Konta's defeat leaves qualifier Tara Moore as the only remaining British player in the competition.

 

She takes on world number 67 Christina McHale later today.

El Loro

British number ones Andy Murray and Johanna Konta have been named in Team GB's tennis squad for the Rio Olympics.

 

They are joined by Heather Watson, 24, and Murray's older brother Jamie, 30, in the four-strong team.

 

Andy Murray, 29, claimed gold in the men's singles and silver in the mixed doubles at London 2012.

 

Konta, 25, will be playing in her first Games, but it will be a second appearance for Watson and a third for Jamie Murray.

 

World number 18 Konta said: "It's such an honour to have the rare opportunity to represent my country in an Olympic Games. I'm looking forward to doing my part for Team GB and supporting my team-mates across all the sports."

 

Former Wimbledon champion Murray added: "Playing for Team GB during London 2012 gave me some of the best memories I have in sport.

 

"Being a home Olympic Games, it was such a special occasion and the atmosphere at Wimbledon was like nothing I have ever experienced.

 

"Winning medals for your country is as good as it gets and I can't wait to get to Rio to try and win more medals."

El Loro

In a rain delayed match Zheng Saisai beat Tara Moore 6-2, 6-4 this afternoon in the quarter finals. The semi-finals were rescheduled to be played this afternoon after that match but the rain has returned. The tournament will need to be completed tomorrow as scheduled as the Aegon Classic in Birmingham is starting with the qualifying rounds today.

El Loro

Former British number one Laura Robson has earned her first win against a player ranked in the top 100 for nearly three years.

 

The 22-year-old beat world number 65 Varvara Lepchenko 6-4 6-1 in qualifying for the Aegon Classic in Birmingham.

 

The Briton's last victory against a top-100 player came against Czech Republic's Klara Koukalova in Beijing in September 2013.

 

She has struggled since a serious wrist injury sidelined her for 17 months.

 

Robson, who is currently ranked 308th in the world, reached a career-high 27 in July 2013, but her victory on Saturday was a rare high-point since then.

 

The first set went with serve until Robson broke the Uzbekistan-born player to claim it.

 

Robson was broken in the opening game of the next set, but stormed back to break three times as she romped to victory.

 

There are three rounds in the qualifying stages.

El Loro

British number one Johanna Konta beat Japan's Misaki Doi in straight sets to reach the second round of the Aegon Classic in Birmingham.

 

Konta won 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 and will face Belgian Yanina Wickmayer, who defeated former world number one Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-2. That's due to be played today.

 

Play was cancelled shortly after 18:00 BST on Thursday because of rain.

 

Briton Heather Watson's second-round match with Czech Barbora Strycova will be moved to Friday.

 

It looks as if 3 of the 4 quarter-finals will have to be played tomorrow and also the semi finals at the tournament will have to end on Sunday as Eastbourne will be starting. The weather in Birmingham should be better today than recently though there are showers forecast in the early evening.

 

In the doubles, the highlight must be today's match where Johanna Konta & Elina Svitolina play Naomi Broady and Heather Watson.

El Loro

Bad news

 

Laura Robson has been forced to retire from her qualifying match against American Madison Brengle at Eastbourne because of a thigh injury.

 

The former British number one, 22, arrived on court with heavy strapping around her right leg and fell a set and a break behind before pulling out.

 

She has been blighted by injury for the past two-and-a-half years with a wrist problem keeping her on the sidelines for the best part of 17 months, and the latest setback has come at the wrong time with Wimbledon due to start in eight days time.

 

The left-hander is likely to be assessed over the next few days before a decision is made regarding her participation at SW19.

El Loro

Better news from Laura Robson:

 

Wildcard Laura Robson says she will be fit for Wimbledon despite pulling out of Eastbourne with a thigh injury.

 

The 22-year-old former British number one was forced to retire from her qualifying match against American Madison Brengle on Sunday.

 

But on Monday she tweeted: "Getting solid treatment on my leg and will be all good for Wimbledon."

El Loro

Play has started at Eastbourne but just on centre court and court 1. The three matches involving British players have been transferred to centre court with Tara Moore playing first (she's just been beaten), followed by Heather Watson, then weather and light permitting, Naomi Broady.

 

Heather Watson (currently ramked 50) plays against Elena Vesnina who is ranked 53 so very close. Heather Watson got to the third round last year.

El Loro

Johanna Konta has beaten Ekaterina Makarova 7-6, 6-4. She's up against Karolina Pliskova in the semi final which is later this afternoon. Karolina Pliskova has a world ranking of 17 compared to Johanna's 18 so couldn't be closer though Johanna has never beaten her. Johanna would have to win to jump ahead in the rankings.

El Loro

The Wimbledon draw has been done.

 

In the women's singles, British number one Johanna Konta faces Puerto Rican Monica Puig, while Serena Williams will face a qualifier or lucky loser.

 

Sixteenth seed Konta, ranked 18th in the world, has met Puig once.

 

The Australian Open semi-finalist came from behind to win 4-6 6-4 7-6 at last year's grass-court tournament in Nottingham.

 

British number two Heather Watson starts against Annika Beck and could then face top seed Serena Williams in a repeat of last year's gripping third-round match, while Laura Robson has drawn Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber.

 

Robson and Kerber have met three times, including at Wimbledon in 2011.

 

The Briton won in three sets then, but Kerber has triumphed in the other two matches, the most recent in Beijing in 2013.

 

Other British players:

Naomi Broady v Elina Svitolina (17)

Katie Swan v Timea Babos

Tara Moore v Alison van Uytvanck

El Loro

Laura Robson lost 2-6, 2-6 and Niam Broady lost 2-6, 3-6.

 

Today's matches include Monica Puig (ranked 36) v Johanna Konta (2nd match on court 1), Heather Watson v Annika Beck (ranked 43) (4th match on court 2), Tara Moore v Alison van Uytvanck (3rd match on court 8), and Katie Swan v Timea Babos (2nd match on court 16). Rain is forecast by 5 this afternoon which is likely to affect these matches. Tomorrow is forecast to be a showery day, though following days at present to be better.

El Loro
Last edited by El Loro

Yesterday Monica Puig was beaten by Johanna Konta 1-6, 5-7. Johanna's second round match against Eugenie Bouchard (ranked 48) is on Centre Court today after Andy Murray's match.

 

The much delayed match between Heather Watson and Annika Beck eventually finished a short time ago with Heather losing 6-3, 0-6, 10-12. The last set clearly very close and the longest women's singles set so far this tournament. Heather's rankings will be hit and she'll drop to around 70.

 

Tara Moore's second round match against the 13th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova is yet to be scheduled.

El Loro

British number one Johanna Konta is out of Wimbledon after losing 6-3 1-6 6-1 to 2014 finalist Eugenie Bouchard.

 

The Australian Open semi-finalist had fought back from a disappointing first set to take the match to a decider.

 

But in front of a Centre Court crowd earlier treated to a masterclass from British men's number one Andy Murray, she was quickly broken twice more.

 

It marked a sweet Wimbledon return for Canadian Bouchard, beaten by qualifier Duan Yingying in the 2015 first round.

 

"I went in with no real expectations of an outcome," said Konta. "I definitely expected her to play well.

 

"Although her ranking may have gone down over the past year, her level of tennis never went away. She is an incredibly good player with a lot of experience, in the short career she's had.

 

"I've got a lot of good things to take away from that match and a lot of things I hope to implement in my development as a tennis player and as a person."

 

Konta, 25, had broken Bouchard early in the first set for a 2-1 lead, only to then ship the next four games as her opponent's greater accuracy from the baseline began to tell.

 

With that accuracy and power came the first set, and Konta's hopes looked to be disappearing in the fresh evening air.

 

But she broke again in Bouchard's opening service game of the second set, and under intense pressure this time held her own in the next game.

 

The 22-year-old then raced into a 0-40 lead on Konta's next service only for the Briton to once again fight back, saving a series of break points.

 

And Konta kept the momentum going with a break to love in the sixth game before holding serve to level the match up.

 

Still the service pressure came. Konta once again slipped to 0-40 on her own serve early in the third and this time saw it taken as Bouchard ended a magnificent rally with a stretching forehand volley.

 

Bouchard had climbed as high as five in the world before a precipitous decline over the past 18 months, and that raw talent bloomed again as she took further control with a second break for 4-0 in the decider.

 

Konta, so vastly improved in the past 12 months, was unable to work a break point as the contest slipped away from her, and in this form Bouchard will pose a serious threat in her half of the draw.

El Loro

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