Australian Open 2018: Heather Watson knocked out in first round
Thursday 24 May 2018 14:26, UK
Britain's Heather Watson was unable to join compatriots Johanna Konta and Kyle Edmund in the second round of the Australian Open as she bowed out to Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva.
Victories for ninth seed Konta and particularly Edmund, who knocked out 11th seed Kevin Anderson, provided a very positive start for the small British singles contingent in Melbourne this year.
Watson did not get onto court for her clash with Yulia Putintseva until the evening and it was the Kazakh who emerged victorious, winning a tight contest 7-5 7-6 (8-6).
The British No 2 arrived in Melbourne full of confidence after a run to the semi-finals of the Hobart International but Putintseva, ranked 14 places higher than Watson at 54 in the world, produced a feisty display to repel her opponent and earn a straight-sets win.
"I definitely felt like the aggressor but my balls didn't have enough on them," said Watson at her post-match press conference. "She did very well moving and retrieving a lot. I just don't feel that I played very well or very smart."
Watson will now head to the WTA tournament in St Petersburg before teaming up with Konta in Fed Cup action against Estonia and Portugal in Group B after the Europe/Africa I draw.
Watson said: "I'm feeling quite negative after the match today because I'm just really not happy with it but I have to take positives and I've had a lot of matches at the beginning of the year and it's good. First round at a grand slam is always so tough and I can't just look at today, I have to look at the weeks before as well."
