Does for Konta on her special day

complaining of dizziness at 4-1 down, a quick finish appeared inevitable.

However, as in so many of Konta’s matches this year, it began to slip away. In set two, Ostapenko started playing more like the world No 6 she is, smashing many of her trademark winners, while the Briton became increasing tentative from the back of the court.

After Ostapenko broke serve at the start of the decider, the typically placid Konta became increasingly agitated, complaining to the umpire about the boisterous crowd and at one point receiving a time violation.

A chance still presented itself to level the match with a break point at 3-4, but an errant return saw that swiftly pass by.

While Konta still can take many positives from her performance, this will go down as a frustrating defeat.

“I do feel like I’m getting better on clay,” she said. “I’m moving well on the surface, I am a little clearer how I want to play and also how to keep my game as it is, because I really believe it is as effective on the clay as it is on the grass and the hard.”

Konta will now take a week off before Roland Garros, where she will hope to turn around what has been a distinctly average season.

“I still feel I’m heading in the right direction,” she said. “I don’t think there is anything that I’m necessarily finding super hard. It’s obviously still the same game, still the same lines, just fine margins here and there.”

Kyle Edmund gave third seed Alex Zverev a scare before losing 7-5, 7-6 in a last-16 match-up between two of the sport’s rising stars.

British No 1 Edmund saved five match points in the second set tiebreak against a tiring Zverev, but was not quite able to push the contest into a deciding set. ANGUISH: Edmund goes out to third seed Zverev