Heather Watson run continues in Wimbledon singles
27th June 2012
Heather Watson's fine run at Wimbledon has continued after beating Jamie Lee Hampton in straight sets in round two of the women's singles at Wimbledon.
The British 20 year old won 6-1, 6-4 to become the first British women to reach the third round of Wimbledon since Elena Baltacha in 2002.
"I always knew I could play this well," said Watson afterwards. "I knew I could get far in these tournaments but it's different playing like that in practice than bringing it onto the match court at big occasions with pressure.
"So I'm just pleased that it's finally clicking for me. As soon as that last point was over it's like an explosion of happiness. I just love when the crowd is so loud at the end, it's an amazing feeling. That's why I play tennis, is for those moments."
Watson, the British No.4, started strongly against her 22 year old American opponent, racing into a 5-0 lead in the opening set.
After closing out the opener Watson broke in the opening game of the second set, going on to consolidate. There followed numerous exchanges of service breaks before Watson held for a 5-3 lead in the second set.
Letting one match point slip the Briton was made to serve it out and, despite a double fault at 5-4, 40-15, won the match the very next point before celebrating in front of an appreciative Court 2 crowd.
In round three Watson will take on Polish world No.3 Agnieszka Radwanska or Elena Vesnina of Russia. The Polish third seed was 6-2, 3-1 up when rain stopped play on Wednesday.
Later Jamie Baker was back on the No.1 Court against American Andy Roddick after rain halted play when Roddick was leading 7-6(1), 4-2 the day before. Once back playing, Roddick sealed the second set 6-4. The third set then remained with serve. At 5-5 Baker attempted a drop-shot which hit the tape giving Roddick the break. The big-serving former Wimbledon finalist then took the set and the match 7-5.
Doubles
Meanwhile in the doubles, Jamie Delgado & Ken Skupski moved through to the second round after a four set win over Germans Matthias Bachinger & Tobias Kamke.
Having taken the opening set with relative ease, the British duo found themselves with a bigger fight on their hands in the second. However, with the match at one set a piece, the recent AEGON International finalists dug deep and took the next two sets, ultimately sealing the match 6-3, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
Elsewhere British doubles qualifiers Lewis Burton & George Morgan narrowly lost out to Belgium pairing Steve Darcis & Olivier Rochus.
The young Britons looked strong as they sealed the opening set 6-4. However Belgium experience took over and Darcis & Rochus took the following three sets 7-5, 7-6(3), 6-4.
Dominic Inglot and partner Treat Huey also narrowly missed out on progressing through to the men’s doubles second round after being defeated in five sets by Israeli duo Jonathan Erlich & Andy Ram in a match that was drawn out over three days.
On Monday, Inglot & Huey were up, leading 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 over Erlich & Ram when their match was suspended due to bad light. They then had to wait until Wednesday to finish their match.
Once back on court, both pairs fought hard but it was Erlich & Ram who evened the match by taking the fourth set in a tie-break 7-6(6).
The fifth and deciding set was equally as close, but the Israeli duo carried on their winning momentum by taking the set 9-7.
British pairing James Ward & Josh Goodall were also in action but were knocked out of the opening round 7-6(3), 6-2, 6-4 by eighth seed Aisam Ul Haq Qureshi (PAK) & Jean-Julien Rojer (NED).
The women’s doubles also got underway, but it was not meant to be for Elena Baltacha & Anne Keothavong who were defeated by Romanian duo Irina-Camelia Begu & Monica Niculescu 6-3, 6-2. Tara Moore & Melanie South also missed out after being defeated by Mirjana Lucic (CRO) & Valeria Savinykh (RUS) 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Colin Fleming & Ross Hutchins were the last of the Britons on court as they took on Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) & Lukas Rosol. After taking the opening two sets 6-3, 6-4, the British duo found themselves in a fifth and deciding set when Kukushkin & Rosol fought back to even. In the fifth Kukushkin & Rosol carried on their winning form to ultimately seal victory 3-6, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-3.