Wimbledon 2018: Jo Konta crashes out with Dominika Cibulkova defeat

Despite holding serve at the end of the second set after saving four match points, the British No 1 and 22nd seed could not deal with the pace of the Slovakian's serve and groundstrokes and brought a disappointing run to an end in front of Centre Court.

Cibulkova will now face Elise Mertens of Belgium in the third round. She said afterwards: "It was a tough draw today and today I can only be happy with my performance.

"The crowd were really nice to me and I was happy to play such good tennis on Centre Court."

Konta became the first British woman to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals since 1978 last year, losing to Venus Williams, but her hopes of repeating that thrilling run were crushed by an inspired Slovakian on a subdued Centre Court.

Cibulkova missed out on the 32nd seeding when Wimbledon's seedings committee bumped seven-times champion Serena Williams up the order and she played with a fierce intent throughout.

Konta, seeded 22, could do nothing to stem the tide of winners as Cibulkova stormed ahead.

She showed real guts to save four match points at 3-5 in the second set as the crowd rallied to the cause.

But Cibulkova showed no nerves as she served for victory, going 40-0 up and finishing off the Briton with a powerful first serve that Konta could only fend into the net.

No. 1 Simona Halep defeats Zheng Saisai 7-5, 6-0

No. 11 Angelique Kerber defeats Claire Lue 3-6, 6-2, 6-4

No. 14 Daria Kasatkina defeats Yulia Putintseva 6-2, 6-3

No. 15 Elise Mertens defeats Sachia Vickery 6-1, 6-3

No. 17 Ashleigh Barty defeats Eugenie Bouchard 6-4, 7-5

No. 18 Naomi Osaka defeats Katie Boulter 6-3, 6-4

Dominika Sibultkova defeats No. 22 Johanna Konta 6-3, 6-4

No. 23 Barbora Strykova defeats Lesia Tsurenko 6-1, 6-4

No. 26 Daria Gavrilova defeats Samantha Stosur 6-4, 6-1

No. 27 Carla Suarez Navarro defeats Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-4, 6-1

Katerina Siniakova defeats Ons Jabeur 5-7, 6-4, 9-7

Hsieh Su-wei defeats Lara Arruebarrena 6-3, 6-3

Belinda Bencic defeats Alison Riske 1-6, 7-6, 6-2

Vitalia Diatchenko defeats Sofia Kenin 6-4, 6-1