Lesley Pattinama-Kerkhove failed to reach the Wimbledon main draw. In the third and decisive round of the qualifications, the Dutch proved no match for Christina McHale: 6-7 (3), 5-7.
The 30-year-old Pattinama-Kerkhove started the match well against the American and seemed to be dragging in the first set. However, she lost a 5-3 lead and eventually lost the tiebreak.
The second set went from 3-3 on service. In the twelfth game, with a 5-6 deficit, it went wrong for Pattinama-Kerkhove. After almost two hours of play, the number 142 in the world had to recognize her superior in McHale, who is one hundred places lower in the ranking.
Too many unnecessary mistakes
The difference on the London grass was mainly in the number of unnecessary mistakes: 52 to 32.
Pattinama-Kerkhove did make it to the main tournament last year and even reached the second round after beating the Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, the former number two in the world.
Four Dutchmen will be in the main tournament in London from Monday: Tim van Rijthoven, Botic van de Zandschulp, Tallon groenpoor and Arantxa Rus.
