Wimbledon 2015: How Heather Watson can beat Serena Williams
Friday 3 July 2015 10:34, UK
We take a look at five key factors ahead of Heather Watson's third-round match at Wimbledon with Serena Williams on Friday.
The British No 1 has won her previous two matches at the All England Club in impressive style but will have her work cut out to progress any further as she faces five-time champion Williams.
Watson has never made it past the third round at a major, but where does she have the advantage over Williams? We take a look...
Aggression
When it comes to hitting winners, there is only going to be one winner: Williams.
However, expect Watson to come out firing against the world No 1. Previewing her former doubles partner Timea Babos' second-round match against Williams, Watson said in the Daily Telegraph that it is important not to be intimidated by the American and "to have the right mindset before entering the court".
The Brit will be looking to continue where she left off against Daniela Hantuchova as she finished the match with a series of winners.
"If she can control her nerves, get enough balls back into play and make herself an irritation out there then she has a chance of upsetting Serena’s rhythm," said Sky Sports pundit Mark Petchey.
Passion
Both players turned the air blue in the opening round as they were caught shouting obscenities.
Watson was docked a point in her match against Caroline Garcia after she was handed code violations for swearing and racquet abuse.
The Brit said afterwards that she hoped for "more controlled aggression" and she put that into practice against Hantuchova.
Williams, meanwhile, received a caution for swearing, which she later put down to nerves.
Support
She may be a five-time Wimbledon champion, but Williams knows she is not going to have the crowd on her side on Friday.
Watson was given a standing ovation after her impressive victory against Hantuchova and she will be roared on by a partisan crowd again in the third round.
Asked about the prospect of facing Watson on home turf, Williams said: "It will be a huge advantage for her. The home court will probably help her a little bit. It's going to be a great big match for us both.
"I've been used to playing against a lot of local people, doesn't matter what country it's in, and hopefully that experience will help me a little bit."
Wimbledon form
For Watson this is only the second time she has reached the third round, with her previous appearance in 2012 ending in a straight-sets defeat to Agnieszka Radwanska.
Williams, of course, has a far superior record at the All England Club, but in recent years she has suffered early exits.
She lost to Alize Cornet in the third round last year and was beaten by Sabine Lisicki in the last 16 in 2013.
It has been said that she is more vulnerable in the first week but, worryingly for Watson, Williams said after her win over Babos: "I'm definitely playing well, which I never say.”
Head-to-head record
Perhaps one positive for Watson is that she no bad memories of facing Williams, because the pair have never met before.
While the likes of Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka and Lucie Safarova all have poor head-to-head records against the world No 1, Watson has a clean slate.
She also beat a top-10 player for the first time this year when she overcame Radwanska in straight sets in Indian Wells.
"This will be the ultimate test for Heather," said Petchey. "But let's not underestimate how good Heather can play."
Follow live coverage of Watson v Williams on the Sky Sports Wimbledon blog on Friday.
