British Youngsters, Heather Watson Loses Early In Indian Wells

Written by: Staff on 8th March 2013

British Youngsters, Heather Watson Loses Early In Indian Wells

epa03614478 Laura Robson of UK serves during her match against Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 07 March 2013. Arvidsson won the match. EPA/PAUL BUCK |

British tennis fans could be considering something of a reassessment after the recent disappointing runs of Heather Watson and Laura Robson has cast doubts on the optimism that the home nation might have two seeded players in this year’s Wimbledon singles.

The British pair are ranked 39 and 43 respectively and both were dismal first round casualties at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells; Watson losing 6-2, 6-4 to Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu before Robson, beaten in the opening round by lower ranked opposition in both Doha and Dubai, crumbled from a winning position to lose 2-6, 7-6, 6-1 against Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden.

Robson led by a set and 4-1 before her game unraveled and the 19 year old lamented: “It was especially disappointing for me today because I really felt for the first time this year I was hitting it well.”

She had been suffering from a chest infection by her latest course of anti-biotics had banished the illness and Robson admitted she was feeling 100% fit. However the Olympic silver medalist at mixed doubles, who lost to 75^th ranked Daniela Hantuchova in Doha and world no.101 Yulia Putintseva in Dubai, did add: “I would say I felt a little bit more nervous than normal. When you go through a tough patch it is hard to get the first win back and I really wanted it today. That maybe made it a bit worse.”

Watson’s defeat was more logical. She is suffering from a strained stomach muscle that affects her serve but she admitted: “This wasn’t my best day at the office.

“I didn’t really play well but my opponent is a great player and I feel like these courts really suit her game, and she played very smart. I wasn’t really able to keep many balls in play. I wasn’t really there today.”

She added: “I feel the courts are just very different, like a clay court – they’re very, very slow and it bounces very high here.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: BNP Paribas tennis news, British tennis news, Heather Watson, Laura Robson, Sports, Tennis, Wta