Johanna Konta loses second-round match at Nottingham Open

Image: Johanna Konta was beaten in straight sets in Nottingham

Second seed Johanna Konta suffered a surprise defeat in the second round of the Nottingham Open but British number four Tara Moore was victorious.

Konta's preparations for Wimbledon were hit by a setback setback as she was beaten 6-4 7-5 by China's Zheng Saisai at the women's warm-up tournament.

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This defeat came just a few days after Konta became the first British woman since Jo Durie in 1983 to break into the top 20 in the world, rising up to world No 18 in the latest WTA rankings.

After her successful five months, Konta has faltered in recent weeks, losing in the first round of the French Open before this latest defeat against Zheng. 

Image: Konta had also made an early exit from the French Open

Konta sent down four double faults as she struggled on her serve and could not prevent Zheng from closing out victory in the second set.

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Her departure follows the first round exits of Heather Watson, Laura Robson and Naomi Broady, and leaves qualifier Moore as the last British woman standing.

Image: Tara Moore in into the quarter-finals in Nottingham

Moore saw off Donna Vekic in the first round and stunned eighth seed Christina McHale on Thursday afternoon to book her place in the quarter-final against Konta's conquerer Zheng.

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Moore is ranked 280th in the world and having beaten world number 111 Vekic in straight sets she added the scalp of McHale with a 6-2 6-2 victory to record the best result of her career and follow up her run to the ITF final at Eastbourne last week,

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