Watson loses as British singles interest ends at French Open
Britain’s miserable French Open was complete when Heather Watson joined her compatriots in losing in the opening round.
After just three days of the tournament, no British singles players remain, with Watson joining Andy Murray, Johanna Konta, Dan Evans, Cameron Norrie and Liam Broady by going down 7-6 (4) 6-4 to France’s Fiona Ferro.
Watson was an early break up in both sets in damp, cool conditions at Roland Garros but was unable to hold on to her advantage.
The British number two had a brilliant start to 2020, capped by her fourth WTA title in Acapulco in February, but has not won a match since the tour restarted in August.
That lack of victories perhaps played a part at the biggest moments, with Ferro winning more of the important points in what was a very close match.
Watson had beaten the Frenchwoman twice in 2020 and moved into a 3-1 lead but back came Ferro and it was Watson who had to save three set points at 5-6.
A tie-break was her reward but Watson paid the price for a series of errors and could not build on a 2-0 lead in the second set.
Danish teenager Clara Tau son made her breakthrough on the big stage by knocking out US Open semifinalist Jennifer Brady in the first round.
The 17- year-old came through qualifying to reach the main draw of a grand slam for the first time and pulled off the result of the day with a 6-4 3-6 9-7 win over 21st seed Brady.
Tauson won the Australian Open junior title last January and is on the verge of breaking into the world’s top 150.
Comparisons with Caroline Wozniacki are inevitable, and Tauson’s emergence comes nine months after the former world number one called time on her career.
Tau son said :“Caroline was a huge role model for me. We come from Denmark, and that’s a very small tennis country. She made it out, and that made me think I could make it out also on the tour.
“We get compared a lot, but I am my own person, and she is her own person. I am just trying to focus on myself.”
Of her breakthrough, Tauson said: “It’s kind of an insane feeling. I didn’t expect it going into the match. Jen, she was in the semi-finals of the US Open, so I was just grateful to be there and just happy that I could play a girl like her on a big court.
“It was a dream come true, of course, and then winning the match, I don’t have any words yet. It was so great, I’ve never really experienced a match like that.
“Of course I am surprised I am in the second round of the French Open, but I feel like I have the game to be here right now.”
Se co nd seedKaro lin a Pliskova survived a real battle against Egyptian qualifier Mayar Sherif.
Pliskova, who has been battling to recover from a thigh injury that forced her to withdraw during the final of the Italian Open last Monday, was unable to take any of eight set points during the opener.
But she fought back to defeat Sherif, the first Egyptian woman to compete in the main draw of a grand slam, 6-7 (9) 6-2 6-4 and will play former champion Jelena Ostapenko in the second round.