Konta beaten by Vekic

World No 70 Donna Vekic stunned top seed Johanna Konta by coming from behind to win the final of the grasscourt Aegon Open in Nottingham yesterday.

Britain’s Konta, the world No 8, looked on course for a first tournament win on home soil as she made a superb start but Croatian Vekic hit back to win 2-6 7-6 (7/3) 7-5.

It was her second career singles title and a first on grass, providing a big confidence boost ahead of Wimbledon next month.

“It’s pretty amazing,” 20-year-old Vekic said on Eurosport.

“I’m really happy. Jo is having an amazing year, but I was just trying to focus on myself and serve as good as I can and be aggressive.”

Konta was fullsome in her praise of her opponent.

“All credit to Donna, she was continuously able to raise her level all throughout that match,” she said.

“I was not able to stay with her.”

In s-Hertogenbosch, the unseeded Estonian Anett Kontaveit overpowered Natalia Vikhlyantseva 6-2 6-3 to win the Ricoh Open.

Kontaveit eased through the first set. She fell 3-1 down in the second but turned the tide by winning 10 successive points and did not look back.