Tennis: Jones loses Phoenix final

The hot winning streak of New Zealand tennis player Sacha Jones came to an end in the United States today.

Jones went down 0-6 0-6 to American second seed Varvara Lepchenko in the final of the US$50,000 ($68,175) Goldwater Classic hard court event in Phoenix, Arizona.

It was the 19-year-old's first loss in 25 matches on the ITF Pro Circuit Tour.

Jones won three successive tournaments in Australia last month before extended her winning streak further by winning the final of a US$25,000 tournament at South Carolina last week.

Her current world ranking of 213th is expected to improve further despite her loss today.

- NZPA