Heather Watson and Kyle Edmund bow out of French Open

25 May 2016 05:53

Heather Watson and Kyle Edmund saw their French Open campaigns come to an end in the second round.

Both went into their matches as heavy underdogs; Watson against 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova and Edmund against 15th seed John Isner.

As well as her title, Kuznetsova has reached at least the quarter-finals on six other occasions at Roland Garros and is having a strong season.

Watson competed well in the second set but her serve was vulnerable throughout and she went down 6-1 6-3 in an hour and 12 minutes.

The British number two did not hold her serve for the first 48 minutes of the match, losing her first five service games.

Watson, the last British woman standing, has made the second round at Roland Garros in five of the last six years but has not been able to take the next step.

She said: "I thought my opponent played just a lot better than me today. She played really well. First set I thought she was pretty flawless.

"Second set I had a couple chances here and there to get even, get back in there. But she just played really well on the important points.

"I fought the whole way through and tried. I think she also tactically played me smart. I didn't get chances to run around and hit my forehand."

Watson has reunited with coach Diego Veronelli after splitting from him in December but the Argentinian has a young family and is only prepared to travel for between 10 and 15 weeks a year.

Over the next few weeks Watson will be accompanied by mum Michelle. The pair were together for the highlight of the 24-year-old's season, when she won her third WTA Tour title in Monterrey in February.

Asked if she would consider bringing in another coach, Watson said: "Right now, I've been happy the way it is. I do like some weeks away from the coaching and having to think of things for myself.

"My mum, we argue a lot, but she is really smart when it comes to tennis. She's been with me my whole career. I never listen to her, but when it's about tennis I do."

Edmund had done very well to come through a physical contest with Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili in the first round, but this was a big step up in class.

The 21-year-old showed that he could trouble the world's best with a blistering performance in the first two sets against David Goffin in the Davis Cup final last November before fading.

But facing the power of Isner was a different matter and one break in each set proved enough for the American, who triumphed 6-4 6-4 6-4.

Edmund had his chances, notably when he got to 0-40 in the sixth game of the second set, but Isner dug himself out of the hole.

Aljaz Bedene will attempt to join Andy Murray in the third round when he takes on Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta on Thursday.

Source: PA