Watson run ends

THE winning streak had to come to an end sometime, but it required a world number one to ensure it.

Heather Watson lost 6-2, 4-6, 2-6 in the second round of the Barnstaple Open to the world's top junior, Kristina Mladenovic of France, ranked 410 senior places above her having made an earlier entrance into the women's game.

Despite making an impressive start to the match, winning the opening set 6-2 in commanding style, the 17-year old Sarnian was eventually overcome by her opponent's superior power and accuracy on the day.

'She came up with some big points today and I just wasn't able to keep that extra ball in play,' said Watson, who later won through in the doubles with partner Laura Robson.

'I don't think I was as consistent as yesterday. In the first set I wasn't missing much, but then I let her in and you can't do that.'

Watson had appeared on course for a comfortable victory having cruised through the first set and broken Mladenovic's serve in the first game of the second.

The 16-year-old from France pulled herself together though and found some accuracy to match the power of her serve, forcing Watson to make the errors that cost her a place in the quarter-finals.

'There was a lack of concentration and I got a bit lethargic, I wasn't moving as much,' said the Guernsey star.