• WTA

Disappointing Watson out of Mercury Insurance Open

ESPN staff
July 18, 2012
Heather Watson's serve failed to function in Carlsbad © Getty Images
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British No. 1 Heather Watson suffered a disappointing defeat at the Mercury Insurance Open on Wednesday, losing to a player ranked 90 places lower in the world standings.

Watson has been enjoying a steady rise through the WTA ranks, currently operating as the world No. 71. However, she was brought crashing to earth by the No. 161 Chan Yung-Jan in Carlsbad, losing 6-3 7-6(2).

Things started badly for the Brit when she lost her opening service game. That set the tone for a first set which saw the serve act as something of a curse, with neither player looking comfortable.

Chan created four break chances, converting all four in a clinical display of tennis. Watson, by contrast, won one of 13 points on second serve and only accepted two of her four break chances to drop the set.

It was more of the same in the second as six more breaks arrived, although Watson did manage to up her first-serve percentage. That was enough to force a tiebreaker, but she was quickly fighting the tide as she fell behind early, never to recover.

Chan will now face the winner of Jelena Jankovic and Melinda Czink.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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