Konta defeated in Dubai

Johanna Konta was unable to take either of two match points as she lost a marathon encounter to Russia’s Daria Kasatkina in the second round of the Dubai Championships.

The British number one led by a set and 3-1 and looked on the brink of victory at 6-4 in the second-set tie-break, but Kasatkina won four straight points, taking the set with a winner that just clipped the baseline.

The 20-year-old then proved the more consistent in the decider, wrapping up a 4-6 7-6 (8/6) 6-2 victory after two hours and 59 minutes to set up a quarter-final against countrywoman Elena Vesnina.

Although Konta led by a set and a break, the match was extremely close, with Kasatkina, who is ranked 24, failing to take any of seven break points in the opening set. When she did finally convert to pull level at 3-3 in the second set, it was on her 10th opportunity.