Whetstone tennis player James Ward was beaten by fellow Briton Alex Bogdanovic at the Nottingham Open this week.

Ward, who shot to fame with his stirring performance against Marat Safin in the Artois Championship at Queen's a week earlier, went down 6-3, 6-4 in the first-round match.

The defeat will probably end Ward's hopes of receiving a wildcard for Wimbledon.

However, the more experienced Bogdanovic, Britain's number two, paid tribute to his opponent, and admitted he had found it difficult.

"James has been playing really well, and when you play a Brit in the first round it's always going to be a nervous match."