Dart misses match points in defeat by Krejcikova

In the Eastbourne first round, a depressed Harriet Dart narrowly lost to Barbora Krejcikova, the reigning Wimbledon champion, to two match points on her own.

On a wet and windy day on the coast, 124 Dart lost to Krejcikova, who is 17th overall, 6-3, 6-7 (1), 7-5.

The majority of the final set was dominated by a break for Britain’s Dart, who finished the match 5-4.

The 28-year-old Englishwoman was broken back before losing the next three games, but she could not hide her annoyance even with a 40-15 lead.

Krejcikova, a two-time major champion in singles, had previously served for the match at 6-5 in the second set.

Following a protracted layoff with a back injury, Czech Krejcikova has only played five games this year.

She lost her first grass-court encounter at Queen’s last week, but her confident victory over Englishwoman Dart will help her prepare for her Wimbledon title defense.

In the second round, Jodie Burrage will face Krejcikova, a British player.

Burrage defeated Moyuka Uchijima from Japan 6-3, 6-2, after missing last year’s Wimbledon due to an ankle problem.

Emma Raducanu, the reigning British champion, defeated Ann Li 6-7, 6-3, 6-1 in the second round, but Sonay Kartal, who defeated former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) to advance to the second round.