TENNIS: Brown loses out in play-off (From The Oxford Times)

TENNIS: Brown loses out in play-off

10:30am Friday 17th June 2011 in Tennis

Oxfordshire's Lucy Brown missed out on a passport to the Wimbledon women’s singles qualifying tournament this week by losing in the LTA wild card play-offs.

The 18-year-old from Elsfield was beaten in three sets by Francesca Stephenson, who then upset second seed Jade Windley, winning 6-2, 6-2.

Brown, the No 3 seed at the play-offs, took the first set against Stephenson 6-2, but the 17-year-old from Essex fought back strongly to take the next two 6-2, 6-1.

Brown was also unsurprisngly knocked out in the first round of the AEGON Challenge at Nottingham last week.

Taking on the Russian Valeria Savinykh – ranked 140 in the world – Brown, who has a pro ranking of 759, was beaten 6-2, 6-1 in a tournament eventuallywon by fellow Brit Elena Baltacha.

Brown played in the girls’ doubles at Wimbledon last year with her good friend Laura Robson.