Watson and Boulter wins add to Brit hits

NOT wanting the weight of Wimbledon to fall solely on Emma Raducanu’s shoulders, Heather Watson and Katie Boulter mercifully advanced to the second round yesterday. Watson knows what it is like being Britain’s best hope in the women’s draw and, on a day when Katie Swan and Sonay Kartal exited SW19, she turned the tide. The 30-year-old overcame Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch on Court 1. It then got even better for Britain as Boulter joined the duo, defying the dimming light to dismiss Clara Burel 7-5, 6-3 on Court 18. Watson was in tears after beating Korpatsch 6-7, 7-5, 6-2. By winning, she exorcised the demons of her horror show against Kristie Ahn on the same court last year, a defeat Watson (right) called an ‘all-time low’. ‘The last few years have been tough,’ said Watson. ‘I’ve had my ups and downs, mostly downs, as so many people have with the pandemic. But not just that, with my tennis as a whole.’ Watson’s match with Korpatsch started on Monday but was suspended at one set apiece. Her tennis was much improved the following morning. ‘On Monday, I was caught up in my emotions,’ Watson explained. ‘Today I just thought, “f*** it”. I’m just going to go out and play. If I win, I win. If I lose, I lose.’

Swan was the first Brit to lose on Wimbledon’s second day, succumbing 6-4, 4-6, 4-6 to Marta Kostyuk, before Kartal lost 4-6, 6-3, 1-6 to Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove. Aside from the Brits, 2019 champion Simona Halep crushed Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-2 on Court 1. It was Halep’s first appearance at SW19 since taking the title but any expectations of a tough match were misplaced — the 16th seed won in 64 minutes.