Watson admits to illness after loss

Heather Watson admitted she was ravaged by fever as the British number two lost to Dutch qualifier Richel Hogenkamp in the US Open first round.

Watson was beaten 6-2 7-5 by the world number 165 but was severely hampered by illness as temperatures reached 29 degrees Celsius at Flushing Meadows.

She said afterwards her symptoms - sweating, back pain and feeling short of breath - were similar to those she experienced during a nasty bout of glandular fever in 2013.

Watson was diagnosed in March that year and did not play again until the French Open in May. “I feel similar, yeah,” she said.

The 24-year-old needed one of the tournament doctors to carry her bags as she gingerly walked from the court after the match.

Watson had called a medical time-out at the end of the first set, doubling over in discomfort on her chair, and was in tears as she underwent treatment.

“It was horrible to play. I was very ill today,” Watson said. “I’ve had a fever for the last three days but playing in this heat is almost impossible when you feel that bad.

“I was struggling to breath and then my back, I don’t really know what it is, but I’ve been to see the doctor.

“I’m going to get some blood tests done and figure out what it was.”

Watson was a junior champion at the US Open in 2009 but she has now lost six consecutive first round matches in the senior event.

The world number 73 said she considered pulling out of the tournament on Monday night.

“I actually did think about it last night,” Watson said. “But I’m not one to retire or pull out. It’s not in my nature. I thought I would try today.”

British men’s number two Dan Evans is through to the second round after beating American Rajeev Ram in four sets.

Evans has only once before gone past the first round at Flushing Meadows but he was a convincing winner on Court Four, beating Ram 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-1.