Katie's run is ended in last eight by Kessler

KATIE Boulter's quest for a third straight title at the LTA's Lexus Nottingham Open was ended in the quarter-finals by McCartney Kessler.

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The American began the contest the brighter of the two and sealed an early break after a costly double fault from Boulter.

The British number one battled back to level but was undone once more by her serve, with Kessler capitalising to take the first set.

Boulter found a way back into the match when she converted the only break point in the second set to lead 4-1 before seeing it out and she was seemingly in the clear when she raced to a 4-2 lead in the decider.

But Kessler - who shocked Beatriz Haddad Maia in the opening round - dug in her heels to recapture momentum, rattling off the last four games on the bounce.