Doubles let down

HEATHER WATSON'S immediate hopes of a third doubles title of the summer, has ended in New York.

Just 17 minutes into her first round doubles match at the US Open at Flushing Meadow, she and now regular Kiwi partner Marina Erakovic retired from their clash with the Russian pairing Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova.

The Russians were leading 3-2 with a break of serve at the time the match ended prematurely, the result of a recurrence of the New Zealander's recent lower back problems.