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Ros Satar

French Open: Watson and Edmund out in R2

Ros Satar
Tennis

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By Ros Satar

  • Svetlana Kuznetsova [13] def. Heather Watson 6-1 6-3
  • John Isner [15] def. Kyle Edmund 6-4 6-4 6-4

PARIS, FRANCE – Last Brit woman standing Heather Watson bowed out in straight sets in the second round of Roland Garros, with Kyle Edmund also bounced out in the second round.

Svetlana Kuznetsova [13] def. Heather Watson 6-1 6-3

This was always going to be a tough ask for the British No. 2 tackling 2009 French Open champion Kuznetsova, and it was a nervy start by the Brit who swiftly found herself trailing the Russian 0-3. Allowing Kuznetsova to get ahead so quickly put Watson firmly on the back foot, and really the first set was over for her in the blink of an eye, despite Kuznetsova seemingly getting more agitated.

Watson looked like she was about to mount a challenge, breaking Kuznetsova at the start of the second set, only to be broken straight back. Although she seemed to come alive a little more, while the Russian seemed to be struggling for breath on an altogether brighter day in Paris, it was not enough to prevent what turned out to be a lesson in clay court play.

Her serve and her backhand proved to be easy targets for the Russian veteran, who is second behind Serena Williams in terms of active players with winning records at Roland Garros, and who now must be seen as one of the contenders.

Although it looked like a brutal beat-down there were chances for Watson, and had a few points gone the other way, we could have been looking at a far tighter match.

Talking to BBC Sport, Watson said: “She was just better than me today. I tried to stick with her but a few points made the difference.”

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John Isner [15] def. Kyle Edmund 6-4 6-4 6-4

Edmund achieved his best result here, having had to pull out last year before his second round after battling through qualification. However the question of whether his fitness would carry through another long match never came up, as the 15th seed needed just a single break in each set to put the Brit away.

After not getting a sniff of a break point in the first set, he found himself with chances mid-way through the second set to claim a break back, but Isner saved the three break points and again denied the Yorkshireman another chance for the rest of the match.

Play continues at Roland Garros from 11am (10am BST).