French Open: Heather Watson defeat to Kuznetsova ends British interest in women's singles
Last remaining British women beaten in straight sets by 13th seed in second round in just over 70 minutes
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Your support makes all the difference.The four British women in the main draw promised much here at the French Open but in the end they had just one win to show between them.
Heather Watson, who had beaten Nicole Gibbs in the first round, went out of the tournament when she was beaten 6-1, 6-3 by Svetlana Kuznetsova on Wednesday.
Watson’s exit followed the first-round departures of her fellow Britons Johanna Konta, Naomi Broady and Laura Robson.
There was certainly no shame in losing to one of the game’s most experienced campaigners, but Watson was left to regret her failure to make an impact with her serve.
The 24-year-old Briton held serve only twice in the match.
This is 30-year-old Kuznetsova’s 14th consecutive appearance in the main draw here.
She won the title in 2009, was runner-up in 2006, a semi-finalist in 2008 and a quarter-finalist on four other occasions.
Although not quite the force she was, the world No 15 is still a formidable ball-striker and competitor.
Watson’s struggles on her serve put her on the back foot from the start.
The only game she won in the first set, which lasted just 30 minutes, was on Kuznetsova’s serve.
The second set started more promisingly for the Briton as Kuznetsova double-faulted on break point in the opening game, but once again Watson paid for failing to capitalise as the Russian broke back immediately.
At the sixth attempt Watson finally held serve to level at 2-2, but normal service was resumed when Kuznetsova broke again and then went 5-2 up.
Watson, to her credit, held once more to stay in the match before Kuznetsova served out for victory after just 72 minutes.
It has, nevertheless, been a reasonable clay-court campaign for Watson, who has almost certainly achieved her goal of securing a place at the Olympic Games this summer.
The field for Rio is decided by the world rankings at the end of this tournament and after successfully defending the points she won here last year Watson should stay around her present position of No 56, which would be good enough to qualify.
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