Cross fails stern examination

Britain's Karen Cross failed to overcome the intimidating obstacle of Zina Garrison Jackson in the second round of the Direct Line Insurance Championships at Eastbourne yesterday.

The 21-year-old from Exeter was beaten 6-2, 6-3, although she had a marvellous chance to make a fight of it early in the second set.

Having gone 2-0 down, Cross broke back to 1-2 and led 40-0 on her own serve. But she let the No 9 seed, who won the DFS Classic at Edgbaston last weekend, recover and Garrison Jackson then eased to victory.

The top seeds, Kimiko Date and Natasha Zvereva, both won. Date beat her compatriot Nana Miyagi 6-2, 6-1, while Zvereva defeated the American Nicole Arendt 6-3, 6-2.