Elbow adds to pain

HEATHER WATSON, who lost in the first round of the doubles at Roland Garros yesterday, said gamesmanship was prevalent in professional tennis – but refused to blame it for her first-round singles exit from the French Open.

On her return to action after recovering from glandular fever, the Guernsey player lost the first set to Stefanie Voegele on Wednesday, but then levelled the match by finishing the second with a run of four straight games.

But she was then made to wait while her opponent took a toilet break and Watson lost her momentum, dropping serve in the next game on her way to defeat. Later, she agreed that some players took a toilet break to try to change the rhythm of a match rather than due to real need.

'Maybe she did need to go, but I should have been focused and ready for whatever.'

Asked if she might have done the same thing, Watson added: 'I'm a fair player. My elbow was hurting. I didn't call a physio on the court because I knew there was nothing that could be done. I could have easily done that.'