Tennis: Britons are bundled out at Eastbourne

With Wimbledon less than a week away, hopes were high in Eastbourne as three British women featured in the singles second round for the first time since 1991.

However, the quarter-finals proved beyond them as their final warm-up event ahead of the Championships in SW19 ended in defeat.

British No 1 Robson went out to a familiar foe as Caroline Wozniacki beat her for the second time in three weeks. Fresh from defeat in the French Open first round, unforced errors proved costly to the 19-year-old as she lost to former world number one 6-4, 6-4.

“I guess it was better than when I played her in Paris,” said Robson, who also apologised for being caught swearing by TV microphones.

Watson’s defeat was more convincing, falling 6-1 3-6 6-2 to Russia’s Elena Vesnina on Court One. The 21-year-old was diagnosed with glandular fever in April but does not think fitness issues were behind her defeat. “It was a good day physically, just not so much mentally,” Watson said.

Earlier in the day, Baltacha put up the best British display of the day as she went the distance with world No 10 Maria Kirilenko. The Wimbledon wild card Btook the first set only to bow out 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 over a tough two hours 33 minutes.

“It was the perfect preparation for next week, definitely,” said the Scot. “I am excited about it.

In the men’s event, British teenager Kyle Edmund exited after a plucky defeat to second seed Gilles Simon, who secured a hard-fought 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/3) win. “I was delighted with my performance,” the world No 442 said. “He is 16th in the world and I got pretty close so confidence-wise it is massive.”

WIMBLEDON QUALIFYING: Britain’s hopes of providing a qualifier for the main draw of the women’s singles at Wimbledon were extinguished yesterday as Jade Windley followed Naomi Broady out of the tournament.

After Jamie Baker, Alex Bogdanovic and David Rice all exited at the second stage on Tuesday to leave Britain with only three players in the main draw of the men’s singles – Andy Murray, James Ward and Kyle Edmund – Broady was edged out by France’s Caroline Garcia after two tight sets.

The third qualifying seed closed out a 7-6 (8/6) 7-6 (7/3) win before Windley fell to a quick 6-4 6-1 defeat to Sesil Karatantcheva at Roehampton.

Top qualifying seed Paula Ormaechea was a shock victim Casey Dellacqua, who won 6-2 6-1.