Tennis – Heather Watson’s bid for her first win at the US Open has ended in disappointment following a 7-6 (3), 7-6 (0), loss to America’s Lauren Davis.
Throughout the match both players experienced serving issues with eight breaks of service. The British number one battled throughout the tight match, recovering from a break down in both sets to keep within touching distance of her elusive maiden Flushing Meadow’s victory.
In the first set Watson went 4-5 down before breaking back with the first set going into a tie-break. Unlike the majority of the first set, the troublesome serving issues for Davis vanished as she remained unbroken to take the tie-break 7-3.
It was an almost identical storyline for Watson in the second set. After a strong start by the American to move 3-1, ahead. The world number 61 swiftly responded to level back up at 3-3. Watson then broke once again for a chance to serve in the second set at 5-4 up, but failed to deliver as the second tie-break loomed. The failure of Watson to serve out the set had a devastating effect on her as she was blown away in the second tie-break, failing to win a single point.
This is the fifth year in a row that the Brit has lost in the first round of the US Open. The tournament triggers a mixture of emotions for Watson, who claimed the 2009 girls US Open crown.
Following her win over Watson, Davis expressed her relief to move into round two.
“I’m really happy with how I played, it was an extremely tough match”. She said.
Since Wimbledon, 21-year-old Davis has won just three matches on the tour. In round two she will play 13th seed Ekaterina Makarova for the second time this summer. In their first encounter Makarova won 6-2,6-4.
