Watson boosted by unpredictability

The unpredictability of the women’s game has kept Heather Watson believing she can still achieve her dreams.

The 25-year-old is ranked 68 and has been repeatedly thwarted in her efforts to reach the second week of a grand slam.

Yet the unlikeliness of Jelena Ostapenko and Sloane Stephens’ grand slam victories in 2017 has given the whole women’s draw the feeling that maybe it could be them.

“I think especially in the women’s game, it’s always changing,” said Watson.

“Your top tenners, I couldn’t even name half of them because it changes all the time and I think that’s a really positive thing for the ones who aren’t up there. The men’s game, it’s stuck a lot of the time.”

This will be Watson’s seventh successive appearance at Melbourne Park, with her best showing the third round in 2013.

Watson has every reason to go into the year’s opening grand slam feeling upbeat after arriving in Melbourne fresh from a run to the semi-finals of the Hobart International.

In her first round match tomorrow she will face Kazakh Yulia Putintseva, who is ranked 54th.

The pair have played twice before and can boast one win each, with Watson coming out on top in their last encounter in Wuhan in 2015.

“She’s a feisty one,” said Watson. “I know that it will definitely be a battle out there.”

Britain’s other hope, Johanna Konta, faces Madison Brengle tomorrow.