Julie Pullin suffered a 7-5, 7-6 defeat to long-term friend Lorna Woodroffe in the British Championship final in Telford yesterday.

The 25-year-old left-hander from Hove, twice a champion, won her fourth national doubles crown with Woodroffe 24 hours earlier when they overcame Helen Crook and Vicky Davies 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.

But Pullin, who belongs to the Pavilion and Avenue club, had no excuses after Woodroffe ignored the old pals act.

She said: "I am disappointed but I just came up short.

"I had been playing well all week but on the day it all came down to a few points and I just did not play the big points well enough."

Pullin, the British No.2, had defeated Woodroffe in Hull last week.

She said: "I knew that would not be a factor because Lorna was carrying an injury last week and she was over it today.

"The fact we are good mates means we know each other's game so well and she is very awkward to play. I knew that when Louise (Latimer, the No.1 seed) got knocked out, it gave me a good chance, but Lorna deserved it. She enjoyed the moment but I could not wait to get out of Telford."

Pullin, watched by mum Andrea and dad Alan, was broken at 5-5 in the first set after serving with a 40-0 advantage.

She was broken again before breaking back at 5-4 to force a tie break in the second.

Even then she saved two match points at 6-3 before losing the third.

Pullin said: "I was close, but not quite close enough."

Pullin left at 6.30 this morning to compete for Britain in the European Cup in the Czech Republic.

Pullin beat Woodroffe to a place in the team.

She said: "The selections were made when Lorna was injured. It means I can get straight back into playing.

"I have had a good year overall and my defeat against Lorna will not make me forget that."