Appleton proud despite Wimbledon qualifying defeat

Emily Appleton believed there was still plenty to be proud of despite an opening round defeat at Wimbledon Qualifying. Woking's Appleton was up against world No.166 Carol Zhao, the Canadian having much more experience at this level of competition across her career. Ad On her Wimbledon debut the 23-year-old started strongly and was close to closing out victory in a second-set tiebreak, but Zhao rallied and ultimately claimed a 4-6 7-6(4) 6-4 victory to reach Round 2.

TennisBrogan brimming with optimism after Wimbledon qualifying winAN HOUR AGO There was naturally some disappointment for Appleton after her defeat, but the world No.392 still took huge encouragement from the experience as a whole. She said: «It's my first Wimbledon qualies as a senior, so I just tried to soak in all the atmosphere and I thought my opponent got off to a good start. »Then I think my opponent settled in, started to play a bit better, and I pushed her all the way and I just couldn't get it today.

I'm pretty disappointed, but I guess I've just got to take it as an experience and hope to come back next year. «The atmosphere was amazing. The crowd were getting behind me and it was getting busier and busier as the match went on.

It definitely helped, especially when I was 4-1 down in the third, the crowd helped me to come back to 4-4. It was a really nice atmosphere and I was just happy to be there. »If you told me this time last year that I would be here, I wouldn't have believed you for many reasons.