World No. 102 delighted the home British crowd as she moved into the third round of Wimbledon with a 6-0, 6-4 win over 18th seed Anastasija Sevastova.
Watson’s ranking had suffered over the last twelve months, but enjoyed incredible runs in Eastbourne and Birmingham, including a win against Dominika Cibulkova to suggest she was a tough draw for any opponent at Wimbledon this year.
Watson played a flawless first set before twice coming from a break down in the second to win. Sevestova defeated Johanna Konta and Garbine Muguruza in the US Open last year, but the Latvian looked very uncomfortable in the opener. Watson played bravely and took full advantage of her opponent’s woes, winning all six games of the first set.
Sevastova recovered to win the first break of the second when Watson double-faulted on break point. Watson retrieved the break only to immediately surrender it again. Watson again came back before holding to make Sevestova attempt to hold to stay in the match at 4-5. The seed failed to do so as Watson raced into a 0-40 lead. Sevastova saved one match point with a forehand unforced error from the Brit, but she then missed herself.
The match lasted an hour and one minute. The draw does not get any easier for Watson in the third round. She awaits the winner of the match between Elena Vesnina and Victoria Azarenka.
Watson: “Yeah I felt very good at the beginning of the match, very honest very relaxed, more relaxed than the first set. I knew she would step it up in the second set, and she did, but I stayed with her.
She’s a great player and I have to expect that she will raise her level after that first set and try something new. I feel like I’m seeing the ball very big and moving well. Whoever wins it’s a very tough match. I’ve got no idea what the draw is.”
