Olivia Nicholls and partner Alicia Barnett began their grass-court season by reaching the final of the Lexus Surbiton Trophy.

The duo, ranked number three for the tournament, were in fine form throughout the week as they eased through the knockout rounds without dropping a set.

A 6-1 7-6(4) victory over fellow Brits Harriet Dart and Heather Watson was followed up with a well-earned 7-6(3) 7-5 success against Quinn Gleason of the United States and France’s Elixane Lechemia.

The pair sealed a place in their second final of the year with a 6-4 6-4 defeat of Britain’s Emily Appleton and Germany’s Julia Lohoff.

Number four seeds Sophie Chang, of the US, and Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer awaited in the trophy decider and it proved to be a close first set, going with serve until the tenth game when a decisive break saw Barnett and Nicholls go behind for the first time all week.

The second set then got away from them as Chang and Wickmayer – who completed a title double by winning the women’s singles – wrapped up a 6-4 6-1 victory.

Barnett and Nicholls now move to the Nottingham Tennis Centre where their Wimbledon preparations continue with the Rothesay Open, the duo facing Appleton and Jodie Burrage in the first round.