Victoria Azarenka beats Heather Watson to reach Wimbledon last 16
Azarenka fights back from a set down to defeat world No 102 in tension-filled match
Friday 7 July 2017 18:17, UK
British wildcard Heather Watson's Wimbledon hopes were ended in three gruelling sets by former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka while Aljaz Bedene's run was ended by Gilles Muller.
Azarenka, who is on the comeback trail after giving birth to son Leo in December, battled back to end Watson's dream of reaching the round of 16 of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in her career with a 3-6 6-1 6-4 success.
The two-time Australian Open champion was playing for only the fifth time since giving birth and she will feel that she has a chance of winning her first major in four years, although second seed Simona Halep will give his a tough test in the fourth round.
Watson raced into an early 3-0 lead thanks to confident serving, excellent movement across the baseline, and accurate groundstrokes, catching her opponent off guard.
The Belarusian struck back in the seventh game, but some errant hitting allowed Watson the chance to serve for the opening set. It was an opportunity she gleefully took after 34 minutes, and had Centre Court, including former Manchester United and England skipper David Beckham, buzzing with excitement.
But two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Azarenka, who missed last year's Wimbledon tournament because of injury and was making her first Grand Slam appearance since the 2016 French Open, struck back by breaking twice to seal a comprehensive 6-1 set to take the match into a decider.
In a nail-biting seventh game lasting over 10 minutes, it was the 27-year-old from Minsk who had the bit between her teeth as she grabbed the initiative. But Watson's never-say-die attitude shone through with an immediate response as Azarenka sent her backhand return sailing long.
Azarenka's high-pitched screeching only seemed to intensify but her aggressive tennis paid off with a vital break in the ninth game. And she fought back from two break points down thanks to some much-needed first serves before sealing victory as Watson crashed her flailing forehand beyond the baseline.
Aljaz Bedene's Wimbledon run ended at the third-round stage after defeat to Gilles Muller.
British No 4 Bedene lost 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 6-4 on Court 2 against Luxembourg's Muller, who advanced into the last 16 for the first time.
Bedene's run to the third round equalled his best Grand Slam performance but his defeat leaves Andy Murray as the sole remaining Brit in the men's draw.
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