Heather Watson out of French Open after being outclassed by Kuznetsova
Heather Watson out of French Open after being outclassed by Kuznetsova
Wednesday 25 May 2016 13.17 BST
• Final British woman knocked out of second round at Roland Garros
• 2009 champion, the world No15, wins 6-1, 6-3 as Watson’s serve misfires
• 2009 champion, the world No15, wins 6-1, 6-3 as Watson’s serve misfires
Heather Watson’s
French Open ended in the second round for the fifth time as she came
off second best against the former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.
It was a tough draw for Watson against a player who won the title in 2009 and has reached at least the quarter-finals on six other occasions.
Watson competed well in the second set but her serve was vulnerable throughout and she went down 6-1, 6-3 in an hour and 12 minutes.
The British No 2 did not hold her serve for the first 48 minutes of the match, losing her first five service games.
Kuznetsova, Russia’s world No15, was much the stronger in the opening set and Watson bounced her racket angrily on the ground in the third game as she struggled to gain a foothold.
The second set was much more competitive, with Watson finally holding serve to lead 2-1, but she then lost four games in a row.
She had her chances, particularly in a lengthy seventh game, but the power of the Russian ultimately told.
Watson has made the second round at Roland Garros in five of the last six years but has not been able to take the next step.
The 24-year-old’s exit marked the end of British interest in the women’s singles, with Johanna Konta and Laura Robson both having lost in the first round.
It was a tough draw for Watson against a player who won the title in 2009 and has reached at least the quarter-finals on six other occasions.
Watson competed well in the second set but her serve was vulnerable throughout and she went down 6-1, 6-3 in an hour and 12 minutes.
The British No 2 did not hold her serve for the first 48 minutes of the match, losing her first five service games.
Kuznetsova, Russia’s world No15, was much the stronger in the opening set and Watson bounced her racket angrily on the ground in the third game as she struggled to gain a foothold.
The second set was much more competitive, with Watson finally holding serve to lead 2-1, but she then lost four games in a row.
She had her chances, particularly in a lengthy seventh game, but the power of the Russian ultimately told.
Watson has made the second round at Roland Garros in five of the last six years but has not been able to take the next step.
The 24-year-old’s exit marked the end of British interest in the women’s singles, with Johanna Konta and Laura Robson both having lost in the first round.
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