Sibley crashes out in Baku after throwing away 2-0 lead

The 27-year-old was going up against Lithuanian Ruta Paskauskiene in her first-round clash in Azerbaijan.

And Sibley looked as they she had found her groove immediately, racing into a 2-0 lead.

However, that was as good as it got as Paskauskiene advanced 4-2, leaving Sibley to wonder what could have been.

“I felt like I came out the blocks quite quickly and caught her off guard,” she said. “I knew I had to do that, because I have played her a few times before.

“I have beaten her a couple of times and those times when I did I have come out quickly and caught her cold.

“I did the same again today. I was 2-0 up but then she upped her game and I struggled to keep with the pace.

“I knew what I had to do, I had to vary the spin a little bit, but once she found her rhythm she was very difficult to break down.

“It is difficult when it is not going your way, but I’m experienced enough now to know what I need to do. I did try to do that, but she had all the answers. She was seeing the ball like a football.

“So I’m very disappointed, especially because of the great start, but all credit to her because she fought back and I had no answers towards the end.”