IPSWICH’s Elena Baltacha is out of the Aegon Classic in Birmingham after she was defeated 7-6 (5) 6-3 by fellow Brit Heather Watson.

Baltacha, who had finished off a three-set victory over Kai-Chen Chang earlier in the day, raced into a 4-1 lead before the rain forced the players off court.

The delay seemed to do the world of good for World No.111 Watson who looked a transformed player when play resumed.

Baltcaha served for the first set at 5-4 but her 20-year-old opponent managed to force another break to bring the scores level.

Watson was in rampant mood and earned a set point two games later, but Baltacha held her nerve to take a topsy-turvy first set to a tie-break.

The tie-break was closely fought but it was the Guernsey youngster who came out on top, taking it 7-5.

With Baltacha tiring following her earlier exploits, the British No.3 took charge in the second set, breaking her compatriot three times to seal a straight sets victory.

It was the first time Baltacha had lost to a British opponent in four years and it comes after she lost her British No.1 rank to Anne Keothavong last week.

It was a bad day for the British girls as Keothavong, Laura Robson, Tara Moore, and Melanie South all crashed out, leaving Watson as the only British hope left in the tournament.

Watson faces third seed and World No.20 Roberta Vinci in the third round later today.