Watson enjoys first taste of victory at Wimbledon

Heather Watson made Centre Court her stage as she thrashed experienced Czech Iveta Benesova for her first Wimbledon win.

The 20-year-old from Guernsey had to wait until the evening to see where her match would be played, and had little time to prepare for her debut on tennis’s most hallowed arena.

But she looked as if she had been playing there her whole career as she raced to a 6-2 6-1 victory.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Watson said: “I’m so pleased to have got through that. It was tough not knowing when I was going to be on but it worked out pretty well for me.

“This is my first singles win at Wimbledon including juniors so I’m so pleased. The crowd was amazing.”

Watson has played twice in the main draw at Wimbledon before, both times losing close encounters, but she is full of confidence after reaching the second round of the French Open and showing good form on grass.

The British No 3 has added extra weight to her groundstrokes and her serve and she wasted little time making headway on world No 55 Benesova, racing into a 4-1 lead.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The 29-year-old Czech has a poor record at Wimbledon, winning only three main-draw matches in 10 attempts, but that was to take nothing away from Watson, who had a number of chances to move 5-1 ahead.

She could not take them, but it did not matter, the former US Open junior champion simply breaking on her next opportunity to take the set.

There was no danger of her letting the momentum go at the start of the second set, Watson breaking again in the second game and then, after a lengthy battle, moving into a 5-1 lead with a forehand winner down the line.

The young Briton had not faced a break point all match but, with the finishing line in sight, she tightened a little and Benesova had her first two chances.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She could not take them though, and Watson brought up her first match point with an ace before clinching victory when Benesova fired a return long.

It was the same scoreline by which Benesova lost to another British player Tara Moore at the AEGON Classic in Birmingham two weeks ago and represented a landmark win for Watson, who next faces America’s Jamie Hampton.

Johanna Konta’s Wimbledon debut against Christina McHale was left on a knife-edge after play was suspended due to fading light with the players locked at 7-7 in the third set.

Konta, who was born in Australia but now represents Britain after receiving citizenship last month, defied all expectations to win a first-set tie-break against McHale, who at 32nd in the world is ranked 180 places above her.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The 21-year-old British No 5 dropped the second set 6-2, and her American opponent looked set to ease to victory in the decider when she broke Konta in the first game.

Konta was on the verge of defeat after she initially failed to break back, leaving McHale serving for the match at 5-4.

McHale buckled under pressure, however, allowing Konta to smash home at the net to level the set.

The umpire eventually postponed the game until today as the light worsened on Court 17.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Oliver Golding’s first senior appearance at Wimbledon ended in disappointment as the Briton lost to Russia’s Igor Andreev after a spirited display on Court Two.

Golding, 18 and ranked 398 places below world No 93 Andreev, stunned his opponent with a series of powerful shots to take the first set with ease.

But he grew increasingly frustrated as the match went on and the man from Moscow ran out a 1-6 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (9/7) 7-5 winner.

Chelsea fan Josh Goodall’s superstition of naming rackets after his football heroes backfired as he and ‘Fernando Torres’ were beaten in the first round at Wimbledon.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The 26-year-old British No 4 is a die-hard Blues fan. In his bag he can call on Didier Drogba, John Terry, Frank Lampard or Eden Hazard, while yesterday it was the turn of Torres to take to the court.

Whatever the name of the racket, though, it did not help him as, despite heavy-serving and an impressive start, he became the first Briton to bow out as he lost 4-6 6-3 6-7 (3/7) 4-6 to Grega Zemlja.

Naomi Broady only had herself to blame as she made a first-round exit at the hands of Lourdes Dominguez Lino.

The 22-year-old from Stockport was always likely to be up against it against the Spaniard, ranked some 157 places above her in the world, but had more than her fair share of chances in a 4-6 6-7 (4/7) defeat.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Novak Djokovic relished the opportunity to walk out on Centre Court as Wimbledon champion for the first time as he began his title defence with a comfortable victory over Juan Carlos Ferrero.

The world No 1 looked a little edgy early on and even gave away the first break of serve, but he was quickly into his stride after that and eased to a 6-3 6-3 6-1 success.

“It’s a very unique feeling,” said Djokovic after opening proceedings on the first day of the tournament. “I think this is the only tournament that actually allows you to have information 12 months in advance when you’re playing. The grass was untouched. It was so soft, so smooth. It was great to play on.”

Women’s title favourite Maria Sharapova flirted with brilliance against Anastasia Rodionova on Centre Court, racing into a five-game lead with just three points conceded before getting involved in a mid-match scrap as the Australian found her rhythm.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A clinical break in the fourth game of the second set got Sharapova back on track, though, and put her through to the second round 6-2 6-3.

Kim Clijsters made a fine start to her last Wimbledon as she dumped out 18th seed Jelena Jankovic on Court One.

The Belgian crowd favourite has already announced she will retire for a second time after the US Open later this summer but she gave notice she could be a threat with a 6-2 6-4 victory.