Heather Watson out of French Open after losing to Svetlana Kuznetsova
Wednesday 25 May 2016 12:50, UK
Britain's Heather Watson has bowed out of the French Open after losing 6-1 6-3 to Svetlana Kuznetsova at Roland Garros.
It was a tough draw for Watson against a player who won the title in 2009 and has reached at least the quarter-finals on six other occasions.
Watson competed well in the second set, but her serve was vulnerable throughout and she went down 6-1 6-3 in and hour and 12 minutes on Wednesday.
The British number two did not hold her serve for the first 48 minutes of the match, losing her first five service games.
Kuznetsova was much the stronger in the opening set and Watson bounced her racket angrily on the ground in the third game as she struggled to gain a foothold.
The second set was much more competitive, with Watson finally holding serve to lead 2-1, but she then lost four games in a row.
She had her chances, particularly in a lengthy seventh game, but the power of Kuznetsova ultimately told.
Watson has made the second round at Roland Garros in five of the last six years but has not been able to take the next step.
The 24-year-old's exit marked the end of British interest in the women's singles, with Johanna Konta and Laura Robson both having lost in the first round.
