A flying start

HEATHER WATSON is the last British woman standing on the French Open clay after a superb display saw her defeat Elena Vesnina 6-2, 6-4 yesterday.

The 20-year-old Sarnian secured a first-round victory at Roland Garros for the second year running, producing one of the wins of her career to progress to a last-64 meeting with Julia Goerges.

Televised live under the late-morning Paris sun, Watson produced a sublime first set to outclass her opponent, who is ranked 27 places higher in the world.

She will now face 25th seed Julia Goerges tomorrow in what will be the pair's first meeting, after the German scraped past Lucie Hradecka 7-6 (1), 6-4.