Downhearted Katie O'Brien considers quitting

BRITAIN'S Katie O'Brien admits she may quit tennis after becoming the first person to crash out of this year's Wimbledon with a straight-sets defeat to Japanese veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm.

O'Brien, Britain's No 5, crumbled 6-0, 7-5 to her 40-year-old opponent on Court Three. The first-set humiliation lasted a mere 17 minutes.

Defeat marked the seventh time that O'Brien has failed to make the second round of the Championships in eight attempts. The 25-year-old ended 2009 ranked 88th in the world but has suffered a tumble in the standings and is set to plummet even lower than her current position of 215th after yesterday's error-strewn performance. When asked whether she planned to return for a ninth crack at Wimbledon, O'Brien said: "I hope so. It's no fun at the moment, though, so I would have to be prepared to make some big improvements if I'm going to continue what I'm doing."

O'Brien may concentrate more on studying for a business studies degree with the Open University if her current poor form continues. "Because I'm also academically quite able, there are actually other things I could do. I'm not enjoying life on the Challenger Tour at the moment. It's no fun."

O'Brien double faulted three times on her way to a first set whitewash. Despite being 15 years her senior, Date-Krumm had the measure of the O'Brien throughout the match, with her aggressive serve-and-volley tactics proving too much for the British hope.

Daniel Cox, the British men's No 3 behind Andy Murray and James Ward, was the next home player in action, though he and Sergiy Stakhovsky did not get far before rain called a halt to their match on Court 14. The Ukrainian, who will partner Jamie Murray in the doubles, won the first set 6-2, and Cox had just held his serve in the first game of the second when play was suspended at 5pm.