Konta misses out on first title at home

BRITAIN’S Johanna Konta agonisingly lost in the final of the Aegon Nottingham Open.

She fell to Croatia’s Donna Vekic 6-2 6-7 5-7 yesterday after looking well on the way to success in the first set.

The British No1 had previously not dropped a set in the tournament, but Vekic dug in and showed the same fighting form which had enabled her to defeat fifth seed Lucie Safarova 7-6 (7/5) 3-6 7-6 (7/4) in three tough sets in the semi-finals. ■■World number one Andy Murray will start the defence of his Queen’s Club title with a first-round tie against fellow Brit Aljaz Bedene.

Murray beat Bedene in the same tournament in 2016 on his way to a record-extending fifth title.

The competition starts today and includes Milos Raonic, who Murray beat to lift the trophy last year, Stan Wawrinka, who got the better of Murray in the last four of the French Open, and 2014 winner Grigor Dimitrov.

Murray could face another Brit in the second round should he win and Cameron Norrie get past Sam Querrey.

The Scot is in the same quarter of the draw as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and could potentially face Marin Cilic in the semi-finals.

Kyle Edmund and James Ward have both been drawn against qualifiers in the first round. ■■France’s Lucas Pouille came from behind to claim his second title of the year with victory over Feliciano Lopez in the Mercedes Cup final in Stuttgart.

The world number 16 hit 29 aces on his way to a 4-6 7-6 6-4 victory, which also marked his third tournament success since last September.

The match was tight throughout but wildcard Pouille closed out in style with an ace.

The 23-year-old said on atpworldtour.com: “I think I took a little bit more of the opportunities than him.

“He had some break points and didn’t make them, and I had only one or two and I made them. So I think that made the difference.”

Lopez took the only break in the first set but Pouille saved four more break points in the second and went on to edge the tie-break 7-5.

Pouille then took advantage of a break point at 2-2 in the third set and managed to hold onto his lead.

Fourth seed Gilles Muller won the Ricoh Open in s-Hertogenbosch with a hard-fought 7-6 7-6 win over fellow veteran Ivo Karlovic.

Neither player was able to force a break of serve in the match but 34-year-old Muller had the edge over his 38-year-old opponent in both tie-breaks.

Muller said: “I think we should make a suggestion to the ATP that we just start with the tie-break next time!”