British number one Johanna Konta has crashed out of the US Open at the fourth-round stage with defeat to Anastasija Sevastova in straight sets.
The 25-year-old was unable to go one better than last year when she exited the competition prior to the quarter-finals, as she fell to a disappointing 6-4 7-5 defeat at Flushing Meadows.
Both players failed to hold their serve in a tight opener, but it was Sevastova who prevailed at a quarter-full Arthur Ashe when saving a couple of break points in ninth game and taking the set in the 10th.
Holding serve again proved to be a struggle for both players in the second set, yet Konta was failing to match her Latvian world number 48 opponent in terms of first-return rate and ended the set with 16 unforced errors.
Sevastova, who will face either Madison Keys or Caroline Wozniacki in the next round, raced into an early three-set lead and was able to get over the line in a time of one hour and 43 minutes despite being pegged back to 5-5.
Andy Murray and Kyle Edmund are left to fly the flag for Britain in New York, as they both prepare for their respective last-16 clashes in the early hours of Monday morning.
Daniel Lewis
