| Wimbledon 2019 on the BBC |
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| Venue: All England Club Dates: 1-14 July |
| Coverage: Live across BBC TV, radio and online with extensive coverage on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app. Full details |
British number one Kyle Edmund let a two-set lead slip as he lost in the second round at Wimbledon to Fernando Verdasco.
The 24-year-old looked to be in control before a knee injury hampered him in a 4-6 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 6-4 loss.
British women’s number two Heather Watson also failed to advance after being outclassed by Estonian 20th seed Anett Kontaveit 7-5 6-1.
Five other Britons will seek to reach the third round on Thursday.
Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans and Jay Clarke are still in the men’s draw, while British number one Johanna Konta and Harriet Dart are the remaining home hopes in the women’s singles draw.
Edmund unravels after slip
Edmund, who reached a first Tour-level grass-court semi-final at Eastbourne last week and said he believed he could win Wimbledon, began confidently against 35-year-old former world number seven Verdasco.
After pushing the Spaniard hard on his serve before getting the break in the 10th game of the opening set, he was handed the second set in bizarre fashion when Verdasco decided not to chase after a lob he thought was going wide.
The ball bounced in and Edmund’s roar was repeated by a packed Centre Court crowd.
But that was just about the last bit of luck Edmund had, squandering an early break to find himself taken into a third-set tie-break. A slip towards the end of the third set had left him walking gingerly and he called on the physio for treatment on his knee and back after the tie-break.
Edmund, who withdrew from his second-round match at the French Open in May with a left knee problem, was once again let down by his body – although this time it was his right knee instead.
His movement became laboured and his shoulders dropped as the momentum swung in the favour of Verdasco, who wrapped up victory on the first of three match points.
“I saw he was having problems with his knee and called the trainer on and I called the doctor because I had problems with my stomach,” Verdasco told BBC television. “It was tough for both of us. In many matches you don’t feel 100% you just have to get through it.
“When I won the third set I was seeing the mountain a little bit shorter but obviously there was still a lot to do. I was just trying to focus on the next point. I am pretty happy with my performance and know I will recover for my next one.”
Gulf in rankings shows in Watson defeat
Kontaveit was always going to be a difficult opponent for world number 122 Watson, who had suffered first-round exits at her previous three grass-court events.
But the Briton started well in breezy conditions, breaking in the opening game and then holding before being pegged back for 2-2. They matched each other for the rest of the set before Kontaveit stepped up a gear at 5-5.
The Estonian won the next two games to love, with Watson hitting long to hand her the first set.
From then on Kontaveit was uncompromising. She went a double break up in the second and made Watson run around the court, capitalising when the Briton’s errors crept in.
“I thought today in general I was too defensive,” Watson said. “I didn’t use my variety enough, coming to the net.
“I’d say the first two games started well. That first set, I just felt like I had so many chances, but wasn’t able to play aggressive tennis and get there. I sort of went on the back foot, just made too many errors.
“After that first set, I don’t feel that I changed a lot. I just feel like she relaxed and really stepped up her level, didn’t give me a look in at all.”
Kontaveit, whose only WTA title was won on grass, will face Czech Karolina Muchova for a place in the third round.
Mixed fortunes for Britons in doubles
There were plenty of other Britons in action when the doubles began on Wednesday, with Cameron Norrie among those to reach the second round.
He and Spanish partner Jaume Munar beat fellow Briton Dom Inglot and American Austin Krajicek 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-7 (11-13) 6-3.
Joe Salisbury and American partner Rajeev Ram, who were runners-up to Andy Murray and Feliciano Lopez at Queen’s, also progressed with a 6-3 6-4 6-2 win over Malek Jaziri and Radu Albot.
They are joined in the next round by Ken Skupski and Australian John-Patrick Smith after their 6-2 6-4 6-2 victory over the all-British pairing of Jay Clarke and James Ward.
But there were defeats for Jack Draper and Paul Jubb, Freya Christie and Katie Swan, and Harriet Dart and Katie Dunne.
