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Watson makes her mark on Tour debut

Heather Watson qualified for the main draw of a WTA Tour tournament for the first time © Getty Images

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British youngster Heather Watson was beaten but far from outclassed on her WTA Tour debut by tenth seed Elena Vesnina in the first round of the Family Circle Cup in Charleston.

Competing in her first WTA Tour event, the US Open girl's champion fought valiantly but could not find enough to beat the world No. 33. Watson, ranked almost 400 places below the Russian, broke her opponent on three occasions as she made Vesnina work hard for her 7-6(4) 6-3 victory.

After saving three break points on her opening service match, Watson settled her nerves and was the stronger in the first set, breaking her opponent to go 4-2 up and missing out on two chances to take a 5-3 lead as Vesnina struggled with her second serve.

Vesnina's experience paid off in the tie-breaker, and she edged the second set to move into the second round.

Second seed Jelena Jankovic survived a woeful start to beat Romania's Edina Gallovits 2-6 6-4 6-3.

The former world No. 1, who won her first title since August at Indian Wells last month, was stunned as Gallovits raced to a 3-0 lead and had little response as the world No. 127 took opening set. But the 2007 champion, who has won more prize money in the first three months of 2010 than Gallovits has in her entire career, rallied to take the victory and move into the third round.

Aleksandra Wozniak also found trouble in pushing through to the third round, but she eventually overcame Catalina Castano 6-2 4-6 6-4 in nearly two and a half hours.

Fourth seed Sam Stosur and seventh seed Vera Zvonareva made shorter work of their second round matches, securing straight sets victories over Magdalena Rybarikova and Rossana De Los Rios respectively.

Monique Adamczak stunned No. 11 seed Virginie Razzano 4-6 6-2 6-0. After taking the opening set, Razzano looked to be on course for a comfortable victory, but the Australian, who failed to qualify for the event but was granted a late entry as a 'lucky loser' after Dominika Cibulkova withdrew with a hip injury, conceded just two games in the final two sets as she stormed to victory.

Melanie Oudin, the No. 13 seed, was the other notable on court, and she won her first round clash with fellow American Jill Craybas 6-3 6-1.

At the Barcelona Open, second seed Aravane Rezai crashed out of the opening round at the hands of defending champion Roberta Vinci. Rezai hit seven double faults as she slumped to a 6-3 6-4 defeat.

Top seed Francesca Schiavone was untroubled by fellow Italian Alberta Brianti as she cruised into the second round with a 6-2 6-1 victory. Schiavone will now meet another compatriot after Tathiana Garbin beat Lucie Hradecka 6-4 7-5.

Third and fourth seeds Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez and Maria Kirilenko both booked their places in the second round with comfortable victories.

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