Watson looking to break out of a ‘vicious cycle’

Heather Watson is hoping the Australian Open can help her break out of the “vicious cycle” she has become trapped in.

There have been a few highs mixed with a lot of lows since the 26-yearold nearly caused a monumental shock against Serena Williams in the third round of Wimbledon in 2015.

At that stage her career seemed on the up but last year she dropped out of the top 100.

She starts her campaign at Melbourne Park ranked 108.

Watson is usually a positive talker so it was telling when she said ahead of her clash with 31st seed Petra Martic: “I feel like the last year or two I’ve not been doing as well as I should be or could be doing.

“I’ve been working really hard so I’m just wanting the hard work to match the results.

“But the more I get older the more I realise how mental it is and how the most important thing is just being confident in yourself and being able to stay relaxed...

“I go back outside the top 100 and then, in my mind, I want to get straight back in immediately. But it doesn’t always work out like that, so I have to be patient.”

Asked why she has not managed to find the answers, Watson said: “Probably because I’m emotional. I need to relax a bit more and not put too much pressure on myself.

“It’s a vicious cycle and I just want to get out of that cycle and enjoy it more and not put too much on winning, especially in the bigger tournaments.”

Watson, who has won only a single match at the last five Grand Slams combined and only one match in the last five years at Melbourne Park, is one of seven British players competing on the opening day of the tournament.

While most of the attention will fall on Andy Murray, qualifier Harriet Dart takes on Maria Sharapova on Rod Laver Arena.

The 22-year-old landed the plum draw at only her second major tournament, and is relishing the occasion.

She said: “Sharapova has been my idol since I was very little.”

There will be higher expectations on Dart’s fellow qualifier Dan Evans, who faces Japan’s Tatsuma Ito, while Kyle Edmund faces Tomas Berdych.

Katie Boulter marks her Slam debut outside of Wimbledon by taking on experienced Russian Ekaterina Makarova while in-form Cameron Norrie, fresh from reaching his first ATP Tour final in Auckland this weekend, plays doubles partner Taylor Fritz, of the US.