Robson lets advantage slip to tumble out of Ilkley Trophy

FORMER British No 1 Laura Robson suffered a setback to her Wimbledon preparations yesterday as she crashed out of the Aegon Ilkley Trophy at the last-16 stage.

Robson, a wild card entry, let a one-set advantage slip in losing to Belgian Maryna Zanevska 3-6 6-3 6-3.

The 2008 Wimbledon girls’ champion, whose career has hit the rocks after a succession of wrist injuries, had started impressively, continuing the momentum from her three-set win over Russian Anna Blinkova on Wednesday.

However, Zanevska capitalised on a succession of errors from Robson in the second set and broke twice in the decider to reach the quarter-finals.

Robson has been awarded a wild card for Wimbledon, which starts on Monday, July 3, where she reached the fourth round in 2013.

British No 9 Jay Clarke produced the shock of the day as he knocked out Ukrainian Ilya Marchenko in straight sets to reach the last eight.

Clarke, from Derby, dominated the top-50 player, who played Andy Murray at the Australian Open earlier this year, in windy conditions on Ilkley’s Centre Court and took the first set courtesy of a single break.

The 19-year-old saw a match point pass by at 6-5 in the second before saving a set-point in the ensuing tie-break. Having changed sides at 6-6, Clarke crunched a forehand winner before sealing the biggest win of his career with a simple forehand.

Marcus Willis went out at the hands of big-serving Australian Sam Groth despite an encouraging performance ahead of taking up a wild card in Wimbledon qualifying.

Willis, who played Roger Federer on Centre Court at SW19 last year, caused the world No 206 problems with his accurate serving as he won the opening set 7-5.

But former world No 53 Groth, who holds the world record fastest serve, hit back and dominated a second set tie-break before wrapping up victory 6-3 in the decider.

Willis was awarded a wild card for Wimbledon qualifying earlier this week as a result of his run of victories that took him to the second round last year.

Top seed Roger Federer qualified for his 15th quarter-final at the Gerry Weber Open with a straight-sets 7-6 (7/4) 6-4 victory over Mischa Zverev.

Former US Open champion Marin Cilic beat American Stefan Kozlov 6-0 6-4 at Queen’s.

In the doubles, Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares made the semifinals, beating Michael Venus and Ryan Harrison 7-6 (7/1) 4-6 10-6.