British number one Johanna Konta lost in three sets in the opening round of the Cincinnati Open to 20-year-old Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka.

Konta took the first set and was a break up in the second but was beaten 4-6 6-3 6-4.

The 27-year-old, who is ranked five places lower than Sabalenka at 39th in the world, committed 10 double faults on her way to defeat.

Konta’s US Open warm-up will continue at next week’s Connecticut Open.

• Murray loses to Pouille in Cincinnati Masters

The final Grand Slam of the year begins at Flushing Meadows on 27 August.

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Britain’s Andy Murray suffered a first-round defeat to Lucas Pouille at the Cincinnati Masters.

Murray hit six double faults on his way to being broken three times in a one-sided first set, which Frenchman Pouille took 6-1.

The 31-year old Briton recovered to force a decider, but Pouille, 24, prevailed 6-1 1-6 6-4.

Murray was playing only his fourth tournament after missing nearly a year out with a hip injury.

Two weeks ago, Murray pulled out of his Washington Open quarter-final after only finishing his last-16 win at 03:02 local time earlier the same day.

Murray also withdrew from last week’s Rogers Cup in Toronto to continue his recovery.

The former world number one looked rusty in the opening exchanges, with two double faults in his first service game setting the tone for a poor opening set.

Murray hit back strongly at the start of the second set, breaking Pouille three times and exerting greater authority on his own serve to force a decider.

Both players showed signs of tension in the opening game of the third set, which lasted nearly 12 minutes.

Murray eventually surrendered the break having led 40-15, with the three-time grand slam champion evidently frustrated after double-faulting to hand Pouille the initiative.

The Scot remained in the contest and forced a break point in the fourth game of the set after coming out on top of a memorable rally at 15-15.

However, Pouille held on to maintain his advantage and then served out the match comfortably to secure his first professional victory over Murray in five meetings.

Elsewhere in the first round, Canada’s Denis Shapovalov overcame American Frances Tiafoe in a thrilling 7-6 3-6 7-5 victory.

Japan’s Kei Nishikori defeated Russia’s Andrey Rublev in straight sets, while 13th seed Pablo Carreno Busta beat Richard Gasquet 6-3 2-6 6-3.

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Plans to revamp the Davis Cup to create an 18-nation World Cup of Tennis Finals will “kill” the competition, says a German Tennis Federation (DTB) boss.

The International Tennis Federation will vote this week on plans to create a new week-long event, to be held each November.

However, it would clash with the ATP’s proposal for a revamped World Team Cup, set to launch in January 2020.

“It will kill the Davis Cup,” said DTB vice-president Dirk Hordorff.

“You cannot make an event which is more or less an exhibition, after the Masters in November, and expect the players to come,” he added.

“We all know how many players are injured and unavailable to play in the Masters, so to have another event after that doesn’t make any sense if you want to have the players.

“The Davis Cup is the crown jewel of the ITF, and if you change something then you have to have a clear concept and a clear contract, but even board members, regional federations and big nations asked questions and they don’t get the answers.”

The ITF, which is the sport’s governing body, is meeting in Orlando this week to vote on significant changes to the oldest men’s team event in tennis.

In February, ITF president David Haggerty outlined a 25-year, $3bn (£2.15bn) plan – supported by an investment group founded by footballer Gerard Pique – for a “major season-ending finale that will be a festival of tennis and entertainment”.

Victor Artuchowski, vice-president of the Polish Tennis Federation, added: “They’ve had five months to explain what’s happening.

“We’ve asked for analysis and due diligence – and we’ve had very few answers. We’re going into one of the biggest things in tennis blind.

“Our chief executive has been told by a board member that if we don’t go through with this deal, the ITF will be bankrupt. Looking into the analysis of the accounts which we have looked into, this isn’t strictly true.”

Haggerty, however, has disputed Artuchowski’s comments, saying that there had been a full consultation, and that there was support for the proposals from several high-profile players, such as Novak Djokovic.

The ITF president said: “We’ve provided written details to members, travelled extensively to meet with regional and national associations, and hosted town hall events at Roland Garros and Wimbledon to provide detail and hear feedback, much of which has been incorporated into the final proposal, such as the 24-team qualifier round to be held each February.

“Novak Djokovic recently expressed his full support for the project, and over the past three months a number of players have spoken positively about the reforms including Rafael Nadal, Marin Cilic, John Isner and David Goffin.

“Privately the majority of players see and support the benefits this change will have.

“We are confident the changes will be approved by the necessary two thirds of voting nations.”