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Johanna Konta beats Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove in Nottingham opener.

Top seed and British number one Johanna Konta marked the start of her grass-court campaign with a comfortable 6-1 6-3 win over the Netherlands' Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove in Nottingham.

After losing the opening game of the match, Konta won the next nine to put herself in control of the contest.

"I am hopeful, I am playing with a lot of hope and excitement," she said.

"I think for me, this is the most fun surface we have. It is different and asks different things of your game."

Konta, who has given a bye through the first round, will play Ukraine's Kateryna Kozlova in the next round after the Ukrainian upset American 13th seed Madison Brengle.