French Open
Venue: Roland Garros, Paris Date: 23 May-6 June
Coverage: BBC red button from 1000 BST and Eurosport; 5 live; streamed on BBC website with live text coverage from 1000 BST. Details of BBC coverage

Bogdanovic has never qualified for the French Open at Roland Garros

British pair Alex Bogdanovic and James Ward failed in their quest to reach the French Open after losing in qualifying.

Bogdanovic, who has reached the second and penultimate qualifying round for the past three years, lost out to the Republic of Ireland's Conor Niland.

The British number two started well but slumped to a 6-4 6-4 defeat.

Ward, meanwhile, put up a better fight in his first-round match but could not overcome tricky Spaniard Pablo Andujar, losing out 6-3 4-6 6-3.

It was a topsy-turvy affair for 23-year-old Ward, who broke three times in the match including twice in succession on his way to the second set.

But Andujar, who has reached the second round of the French Open proper in the last two seasons, drew on his experience on his favoured clay surface to snatch the final set and curtail Ward's challenge.

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Bogdanovic had earlier recovered from a loss of serve first-up to break twice and take a 3-1 lead in the first set against 28-year-old Niland.

The 25-year-old Briton wasted a number of further break points, though, and Niland fought back to take the opener.

A single break in the second set proved enough to earn the Irishman a place in the second qualifying round.

It means world number four Andy Murray will be Britain's sole representative in the men's draw when the French Open gets under way on 23 May.

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