BRITAIN’S TENNIS flops were desperately trying to put on brave faces after a depressing two days at Wimbledon.

There were valiant performances, particularly from Joshua Goodall, who took experienced Frenchman Michael Llodra to five sets, and Georgie Stoop, who pushed seventh seed Vera Zvonareva all the way in matches that spilled over the two days.

But the Brits still tumbled out of the tournament with all the predictability of a Roger Federer groundstroke.

Anne Keothavong, the top British woman in the world rankings, failed to win a set and there were also defeats yesterday for Katie O’Brien, Alex Bogdanovic and Dan Evans, while Mel South, Laura Robson and James Ward had all crashed out on the opening day.

Keothavong, who had been expected to post a British victory, lost 7-5 6-2 to Austrian Patricia Mayr, while Bogdanovic, who went down 6-3 6-4 6-4 to 20th seed Tomas Berdych, has now lost all his eight career singles matches at Wimbledon.

The defeated Britons had the consolation of £10,750 cheques for first-round losers, while Goodall also had the satisfaction of winning his first set at the fourth attempt.

Goodall received a standing ovation following his 4-6 7-6 6- 4 3-6 6-4 defeat in a match which lasted three hours and 14 minutes, spread over two days.

It was level at one set each when bad light brought a premature end last night and Goodall slipped behind for the first time when Llodra took the third set 6-4.

The 23-year-old from Hampshire produced a battling effort, however, to keep the crowd packed into Court Two on their feet and drew level after demonstrating exceptional mental strength to force a deciding set.

It then went with serve until Llodra forced the decisive break in the 10th game.

"I was disappointed but I think in general I’m pretty proud of myself," Goodall said.

"I’ve improved massively, even in the last couple weeks since Queen’s, so I can take that match and obviously look at what I need to work on.

"These are the first two sets I’ve won at Wimbledon. To be involved in a five-set match is obviously pretty exciting." but obviously I would like to be winning these matches."

Stoop could also walk out of the All England Club with her head held high after going down 7-6 4-6 6-4 to Zvonareva, from Russia.

The momentum had been with the 21-year-old from Cambridgeshire after she fought back to level the match when bad light ended play for the day last night.

Stoop also set the pace in blazing sunshine when they resumed but crucially dropped her serve in the ninth game.

"I’m feeling pretty down but that was a great experience for me," Stoop said.