Victorious Watson is unlucky snoozer

HEATHER WATSON will be grateful for the early start on No.1 Court against Slovenian Kaja Juvan – she might actually be able to stay awake for it.

The British No.4 admitted after her 7-6 6-4 second-round win against China’s Qiang Wang had been carried over from the night before that she is struggling with sleep and begged not to be kept up late today.

Watson, right, said: “I slept awfully because during my match I had had to take caffeine to stay up for it when we’re playing at 9pm. So, I got probably just shy of four hours’ sleep and woke up not feeling great this morning. It’s been a really tough few days for me with the scheduling – it’s not been on my side at all. “I don’t always take it. The only reason I did yesterday is because it was pretty late when we went on.

“It’s a gel I take. Maybe it doesn’t actually do anything to me physically, but mentally I feel like I’ve checked that box. But I could probably drop off now.” Dreaming or not, it puts the 30-year-old one match away from reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon for the first time in 12 years of trying.

Compatriot Harriet Dart did not make it so far as round three, despite a positive start against eighth seed Jessica Pegula.

The 25-year-old admitted she could “not find any solutions” in a 4-6 6-3 6-1 win for the American.

Elsewhere in the women’s draw, there were few surprises – although top seed Iga Swiatek needed three sets to see off lucky loser Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove of Holland 6-4 4-6 6-3 and take her run of wins to 37. The Pole will play France’s Alize Cornet, who recorded a 6-3 6-3 win against American Claire Liu.