The first round of the Aegon British Tour event at Felixstowe Lawn Tennis Club saw Hadleigh-based teenager Paul Midgley defeated in straight sets by Mark Whitehouse today.

Midgley, 17, lost 2-6, 4-6 in the best-of-three match after reaching the main draw through the qualifying stages but was pleased with his overall performance.

“It was good experience for me. It’s my first main draw of a grade one British Tour and he (Whitehouse) is doing well,” Midgley said.

“I didn’t feel completely out of my depth. I think I need to make a few more first serves and there were just a couple of points here and there that he was a bit more solid on.”

As rain stopped the other three 11am matches being played Midgley and Whitehouse saw out the last few games of their second set but the Ipswich Sports Club player was happy to continue despite the weather.

Midgley said: “Obviously it’s not ideal but I don’t think the weather’s going to get much better. I think we both thought we should just carry on and finish the match.”

Ryan Lambert followed Midgley in leaving tennis’ Aegon British Tour event in Felixstowe at the first round stage.

Lambert, 17, from Ipswich, lost the first set 6-1 to world-ranked opponent Harry Meehan and retired at 2-1 down in the second set after aggravating a groin injury picked up in a qualifying match yesterday.

Lambert said: “It was a long, three set match yesterday and I just tweaked my groin a little bit.

“I thought I’d be able to do alright today but as the match went on I couldn’t really turn. I thought it was better to end it there.”

But considering the injury Lambert was happy with how he played against the experienced Meehan.

“I still took some good shots and to take two games off him, looking at it, is quite good but obviously I’d like to have tried when I could move a bit better.”

Like Midgley, the tournament at Felixstowe was the first tour event where Lambert has reached the first round of the main draw.