GB's Jones misses match points in Nottingham loss

Britain's Francesca Jones missed two match points in a narrow defeat by Talia Gibson in the Nottingham Open first round.

Jones battled back from a set and a break down - and a medical timeout - to force a deciding set against Australia's Gibson.

After being an early break down in the third, Jones hit back and held two match points as she served for victory at 5-3.

However, world number 66 Gibson broke back and held firm in the resulting tie-break to win 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-4) after a gruelling three hours and six minutes.

Jones showed good fight in what was the longest match of her career, hitting 15 aces and landing 75% of her first serves.

She also twice appeared in discomfort, particularly after being broken to start the second set when she sat with her head under a towel, breathing deeply.

The doctor was called to court to check her blood pressure and vitals and Jones continued, breaking Gibson back before eventually taking a tight second set.

The 25-year-old took another medical timeout at 5-5 in the third set after appearing to struggle with a nasal problem.

Earlier at Nottingham, Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen battled back to beat Maria Sakkari 4-6 7-6 (7-1) 6-4.

Queen's finalist Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter both withdrew from the tournament on Monday.

There were defeats for British hopefuls Harry Wendelken and Jack Pinnington Jones in the first round at Queen's.

World number 224 Wendelken beat two top-100 players in Adam Walton and Aleksandar Vukic in qualifying to reach the main draw.

However, he fell 6-4 7-6 (7-5) to 56th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp on the first match on Andy Murray Arena.

Pinnington Jones, who reached the second round at Wimbledon last year, lost out 6-4 4-6 7-6 (7-3) to Denis Shapovalov in a topsy-turvy encounter.

Pinnington Jones was twice a break up in the deciding set and served for the match against the Canadian.

However, former world number 10 and 2021 Wimbledon semi-finalist Shapovalov broke back and dominated the tie-break to advance.

In the doubles, British defending champions Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool beat Francisco Cerundolo and Brendan Nakashima 7-5 6-4.