Tuesday 10 June 2014 20:35, UK
Heather Watson crashed out of the WTA AEGON Classic in Birmingham having wasted three match points against Canadian qualifier Aleksandra Wozniack.
The new British No 1 lost 2-6 7-5 6-4 at the end of a first round match that lasted two hours and 12 minutes.
Fresh from having overtaken Laura Robson in the latest WTA rankings, courtesy of reaching the second round of the French Open, Watson raced into a one set lead, breaking three times.
The signs looked good for the 22-year-old from Guernsey, who had won nine matches on the bounce before her Roland Garros exit, as she served for the match at 5-3, but Wozniack hit back to take the second set 7-5 and force a decider.
The Canadian looked to have taken control of a tight final set as she claimed an earlier break and despite Watson breaking back to level at 4-4, Wozniack immediately reclaimed the advantage and served out to seal the win.
She will now face another Brit in the second round after Johanna Konta saw off 14th seed Kurumi Nara in straight sets, 6-3 6-1. It was a mightily impressive result for the 23-year-old against an opponent 71 places above her in the rankings.
Naomi Broady is out, however, despite a brave effort against the Czech Republic’s world No 62 Barbora Zahlavova Strycova. She won the opening set before eventually falling 5-7 6-4 6-3.
In the day's other first round matches, 12th-seed Monica Puig did not have it all her own way as she fought to a 6-7 (3/7) 6-2 6-2 win over Stefanie Voegele.
Hungary's Timea Babos was a 6-3 6-4 winner over Marina Erakovic of New Zealand while Petra Cetkovska beat Alexandra Cadantu by the same score.
Casey Dellacqua safely advanced with the 16th seed beating Urszula Radwanska 61-6-3 and American Christina McHale beat Anna Schmiedlova 7-6 (7/5) 6-4.
Lauren Davis also moved through with the 20-year-old beating fellow American Victoria Duval 6-2 2-6 6-2.
In the second round, top seed Ana Ivanovic was relatively untroubled in a 6-4 6-1 win over Mona Barthel while seventh seed Daniela Hantuchova beat Belinda Bencic 6-1 6-4.
In the day's remaining second round match, Coco Vandeweghe was a 5-7 7-5 6-1 victor over Yanina Wickmayer.
