Heather Watson ousts Ran Tian in the first qualifier – China Open 2012
World number 78, Heather Watson, commenced the China Open campaign against the local teenager, Ran Tian, in the first qualifier. She registered emphatic straight sets victory, with the scores of 7-5, 6-2 and advanced to the final
qualifier, taking just an hour and 21 minutes.
It was a good performance from the 20-year-old Briton who is looking to dethrone the compatriot, Laura Robson, from that number one Briton spot. The recent draws that she has been receiving in the big tournaments were extremely
tough for her. So, gathering the points has been pretty tough for the British player but she is determined to break into the Top-50 players by the end of the season.
The inexperienced Chinese lost the breakthrough in the opening game of the clash but bounced back immediately to make it 1-1 in the following game. She played very well according to her standards and defied her opponent from taking
control of the proceedings. She broke serve in the sixth game to take a lead of 4-2 and held her serve to make it 5-2 in her favour. She was just a game away from advancing halfway through the upset.
Watson held her nerves and jumped back into the contest with successive breakthroughs in the most crunch situation. She tied the scores at 5-5 and continued to make an impact; won another breakthrough in the 11th game
and held her serve to win the set from a trail of 2-5.
The Briton started the second set at a high note; broke serve to take a lead and protected it with a serve hold. She was leading the scores by 3-1 before grabbing the second breakthrough of the set and drowning her rival to a trail
of 1-4. A trade of breakthroughs didn’t hurt her cause and a serve hold in the eighth game of the second set ended the clash in her favour.
It was a terrific start from the Chinese 18-year-old who was looking extremely threatening at one stage of the opening set. However, Watson is in the second qualifying round and locks horns against Camila Giorgi.
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