Battle of the Brits next up
HEATHER WATSON stormed into the second round of the Nature Valley Open in Nottingham yesterday.
The British No. 2 showed remarkable confidence for a player who had won only two singles matches on the WTA Tour since January as she eased past American qualifier Danielle Lao 6-1, 6-3 in 1hr 15min. thanks to a convincing display.
Under grey skies in breezy conditions, Watson got off to the ideal start as she won the opening five games in wrapping up the first set in double-quick time.
She was made to work harder by her world ranked No. 252 opponent at the start of the second, but she was never in any real danger of being on the wrong end of an upset in her second grass court tournament of the season, ahead of which Watson had told the Nottingham Post this week: ‘I feel I’ve been playing really well this year, and despite the results I feel really good and really confident.’
The draw has thrown up a battle of the Brits in round two as Watson now faces fourth seed and British No. 1 Johanna Konta.
