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Katie Boulter, Heather Watson knocked out of Eastbourne, Liam Broady advances

Boulter, Watson knocked out of Eastbourne, Broady advances
© Reuters
Katie Boulter and Heather Watson both suffer first-round exits from the Eastbourne International, but Liam Broady defeats Jan Choinski.

British duo Katie Boulter and Heather Watson both suffered first-round exits at the Eastbourne International on Tuesday, but Liam Broady progressed to the second round.

Following opening wins for Harriet Dart and Jodie Burrage on Monday, Boulter and Watson sought to join their fellow home favourites in the last 16.

However, Boulter was beaten 4-6 5-7 by Croatian lucky loser Petra Martic, while Watson went down 3-6 4-6 by Italy's Camila Giorgi not long after.

Nottingham Open champion Boulter has been unable to build on her maiden WTA title win two weekends ago, also going out in the first round of the Birmingham Classic before defeat to Martic in two hours and five minutes.

The British number one had five opportunities to break Martic in the first set - four of which came after she lost her serve in the fifth game - but she failed to take any of them.

Heather Watson pictured at Wimbledon on July 3, 2022© Reuters

In blustery conditions, Boulter found herself under the cosh in the second set, failing to bring up a single break point and finding the net with a backhand to gift Martic a break in the 11th game.

The world number 88 - who double-faulted four times in the second set - punched her racquet out of frustration, before Martic progressed to the second round on a love hold.

At the same time, former British number one Watson came unstuck against Giorgi, taking just one of the seven break points she fashioned on the day in an 86-minute defeat.

Despite double-faulting no fewer than 10 times during the course of the match, Giorgi quickly asserted her dominance, breaking to love for a 5-3 lead in the opener and saving three break-back points to take the first set.

The Italian put one foot in the next round with a double break for a 4-1 lead in the second set, and while Watson managed to earn one back, she could not complete a late turnaround in front of the home crowd.

Liam Broady reacts at the Eastbourne International on June 27, 2023© Reuters

However, Broady fared better in his all-British affair with Jan Choinski, seeing off his compatriot 6-3 6-4 to book his spot in the last 16 of the men's tournament.

Firing five aces in the first set, Broady stormed into a 3-0 lead on his first break point and was relatively comfortable on serve, despite being taken to deuce in the seventh game.

Choinski did not bring up a single break point in the first set, though, and he lost his serve in the opening game of the second set before managing to claw back level at 3-3.

Choinski's revival was short-lived, though, as Broady broke back straight away for a 4-3 lead before surviving a slight scare at the end to advance on his third match point.

Broady - the only British man left standing at Eastbourne - will face Sweden's Mikael Ymer for a place in the quarter-finals, where he could potentially come up against defending champion Taylor Fritz.

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Ben Knapton

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