Johanna Konta, newly minted Brit, blew a 5-2 lead in the third set to surrender a place in the third round of the US Open alongside Laura Robson and Andy Murray, and further spoiled what might have been a joyous night by throwing her racket after losing to the Bulgarian Olga Govortsova 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 in two hours and 27 minutes.
It would have been the first time three British players had gone this deep together in a major since 2002 at Wimbledon, Melbourne in 1985 and here in 1981.
Robson, who retired Kim Clijsters on the main court on Wednesday night, plays the ninth seed Li Na today, and Murray plays the 30th seed Feliciano Lopez tomorrow.
Konta, the 21-year-old Australian-born daughter of Hungarian parents who emigrated to the UK seven years ago, received her citizenship only last month after a protracted campaign by lawers and the Lawn Tennis Association and admitted she is not so sure of the words to the national anthem.
She played brilliantly in the first set, taking the lead with a couple of aces. However, nerves infected her tennis in the second set before she recovered at the start of the third. Inexplicably, mistakes flooded her rallies and her serve let her down as Govortsova rallied.
