Birmingham Classic: Katie Boulter retires after a set as Harriet Dart takes victory | Tennis news

Katie Boulter was forced to withdraw from the Birmingham Classic after Anhelina Kalinina took the first set 6-3 in Birmingham.

The match came just two days after No. 4 seed Boulter won back-to-back titles in Nottingham with a 4-6 6-3 6-2 victory over Karolina Pliskova.

Boulter had won an all-British contest in the semi-finals against Emma Răducanu, in three sets, 6-7 6-3 6-4. She was benched when play was suspended on Saturday night before it resumed on Sunday.

Harriet Dart reached the second round after a comfortable 6-3 6-3 win over qualifier Moyuka Uchijima, but wildcard Heather Watson suffered a 3-6 6-4 7-5 defeat to Marie Bouzkova in Birmingham.

In a match that lasted just under three hours, Bouzkova came back from 5-2 down in the deciding set to claim victory.

Elsewhere, world No. 8 Zheng Qinwen secured a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win. Naomi Osaka in the first round of the Berlin Open.

Zheng hit 23 aces during the match, which is the most so far in a WTA Tour match this season.

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