TAUNTON tennis star Lucy Shuker gave her all during her ninth Wimbledon campaign, but suffered two defeats in the wheelchair singles and doubles.
Shuker, an Ashbrittle resident who trained at Blackbrook Sports Centre in Taunton, lost out in straight sets to Yui Kamiji in the ladies singles, and to Dutch pair Marjolein Buis and Diede de Groot in the ladies doubles.
On Thursday the 37-year-old, who is current British no. 1 and world no. 7, took on Kamiji of Japan in the ladies wheelchair singles quarter-finals.
Kamiji, the world no. 1, broke in Shuker's second service game to take a 3-1 lead in the first set, only for the pair to swap breaks up to 4-3.
The Japanese player was able to land another break, though, and then finally achieved a hold of serve to take the opening set 6-3.
Shuker had shown real deft of touch at the net and powerful return winners to give herself hope of a comeback, only for Kamiji to dominate the second set.
She secured three consecutive breaks for a 5-0 lead, and she saw it out 6-1 to make the semi-finals at Shuker's expense.
The Briton hit 17 winners but also made 20 unforced errors to Kamiji's nine, and got 49 per cent of her first serves in to her opponent's 79 per cent.
Thank you to everyone for the support today - it's always going to be tough out there but looking forward to some doubles action tomorrow 🎾 https://t.co/3934CwzfeD
— Lucy Shuker (@lucy_shuker) July 13, 2017
She then partnered Germany's Sabine Ellerbrock in the ladies wheelchair doubles semi-finals, as they took on Buis and De Groot of the Netherlands.
Despite some lovely slices and drop shots from Shuker, the Dutch pair moved 4-2 ahead and, despite their opponents bringing it back to 4-4, they won the first set 6-4.
Again Shuker found herself on the receiving end of a one-sided second set, as Buis and De Groot kept their opponents at arm's length as they moved 4-0 ahead and, although Ellerbrock and Shuker pulled one game back, it finished 6-1.
Might not have been the #Wimbledon I wanted but as a best loser award it was great to catch up with @JohnnyVegasReal @TheLastLeg https://t.co/O69NpMCbCb
— Lucy Shuker (@lucy_shuker) July 14, 2017
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