British number one Johanna Konta's run at the BNP Paribas Open has ended with a three-set defeat to Karolina Pliskova.
Victory for Konta would have put her in with a chance of breaking into the top 20 of the world rankings for the first time, but she succumbed to a 7-6 (7/2) 3-6 6-3 loss to the big-hitting Czech.
She will head away from Indian Wells with regrets, though, after she had opportunities to get past the world number 19.
Konta found herself serving for the first set at 6-5 after breaking Pliskova for the second time, but she fluffed her lines and then was beaten in the tie-break to squander the advantage.
Things looked bleak early in the second set too as Pliskova marched into a 2-0 lead, but Konta reeled off five successive games to wrestle back the initiative, eventually taking it 6-3.
Despite seemingly having the momentum, Konta could not get over the line as Pliskova's break in the fourth game of the decider proved crucial and the 18th seed went on to serve the match out.
Defeat means Britain has still not had a women inside the top 20 since Jo Durie in 1987.
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