Johanna Konta taking the positives from defeat in Dubai

British No 1 Johanna Konta is remaining upbeat despite squandering two match points during her loss to Daria Kasatkina in Dubai.

Konta has made a mixed start to the 2018 season, as she bids to bounce back from a disappointing end to 2017.

She has three career singles titles to her name and reached a high of four in the world rankings after her run to the Wimbledon semi-finals last summer, but then won only two more matches that year.

And she suffered another setback on Wednesday when Kasatkina eventually won a marathon three-hour tussle 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-2.

Konta said: "It would have been nice to have taken one of the match points - however, that's part of the game.

"I can really look back at this match and take the good things, because I did do a lot of good things, and learn from the things I can try to do better."

The World No 12 agreed that Kasatkina had been the stronger player in the final set, adding: "I fought the best that I could in that third set.

"Not to lie, I don't feel amazing.

"At one point I was laughing, I did think we were playing two separate matches because she looked fresh as a daisy.

"So that was not a great feeling, but I did the best that I could today."

And Konta later tweeted: "Thank you to all the people out there who continue to support me, understand what process and growth is, and how it looks in reality. #keepworking"

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