Julie Pullin is set for an injury break after spurning another chance to end her Wimbledon hoodoo.

The Hove left-hander is planning a few weeks off following her straight sets exit against Natasha Zvereva before trying to qualify for the US Open.

Pullin has been plagued for months by a problem with a nerve in her back.

"It hasn't stopped me playing, but I think it has got to the point where if I want to get rid of it I am going to have to take a few weeks off," she revealed. "It's affecting my training."

The British No. 2 also pulled a stomach muscle during practice at Wimbledon last Friday, although she admits it did not affect her 6-4, 6-3 defeat by world No. 60 Zvereva..

Pullin has now lost in the first round in each of her six Wimbledon appearances and has only ever won one set, but yesterday's result masked a series of missed opportunities.

The 24-year-old, ranked 80 places below Zvereva, had a break point for 3-0 and two more for 4-1. A poor service game then allowed the tour veteran from Belarus to level as Pullin, from 4-2 up, won only three more points in the first set.

"I played a really bad game when I was a break up at 4-3," Pullin said. "A couple of double faults, a couple of soft points and things change so quickly. It is so annoying.

"The problem I am having at the moment is keeping my level of play going. My level has gone up, but when I get into the lead I keep giving my opponent another chance. If you keep a grip on the match that is when you start getting results."