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Robson & Watson both beaten at Indian Wells

Heather Watson looked flat in Indian Wells © Getty Images

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A disappointing day for British tennis saw both Laura Robson and Heather Watson knocked out of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells on Thursday.

Robson in particular will be disgusted by her exit, as troubles with her service motion saw her throw away a comfortable second set advantage to eventually lose in three sets to Sofia Arvidsson, 2-6 7-6(2) 6-1.

Having taken the first set in clinical fashion, Robson looked to be on course for a comfortable passage into the second round at Indian Wells after racing into a 4-1 second set lead. But problems with the Englishman's ball toss began to plague her and Arvidsson took full advantage - quickly restoring parity and subsequently edging 6-5 ahead on her serve.

Robson rallied back to force a tiebreak but could not see the match out, as Arvidsson forced a deciding stanza.

By that point the momentum of the contest had well-and-truly transferred to the Swede - and she reeled off break after break in the third set as she eventually won the match in just over two hours.

Earlier in the day British No. 1 Watson also did not appear to be at her best, as she suffered a disappointingly straightforward defeat to Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu.

Watson, the current world No. 39, had six break points during the contest - but looked uncharacteristically flat and lifeless as she failed to convert any of them, as Begu outshone her in almost every department on the way to a 6-2 6-4 triumph.

Watson had lost in qualifying for the tournament in each of the past two seasons.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.