Heather Watson arrives in New York keen to put Wimbledon heartache in the past

31 August 2015 03:31

Heather Watson is desperate to put her Wimbledon heartache with Serena Williams behind her by registering a first career win at the US Open on Monday.

A few hours before Williams begins her bid to complete a calendar grand slam on Arthur Ashe, Watson takes to Court 17 to face another American, Lauren Davis, for a place in the second round.

Eight weeks ago, Watson came within two points of ousting Williams on Centre Court and pulling off one of Wimbledon's greatest ever upsets.

But the 21-time major champion fought back, won the match and ultimately clinched a third major title of the year.

The loss remains a sore point for Watson, who has little time for talk of heroics.

"I was close but at the end of the day I didn't do it, did I?" Watson said.

"Everybody is asking me, was it the best time of my life? And I don't really understand that."

Watson reviewed the match once with her Argentinian coach Diego Veronelli but finds it difficult to watch and even harder to stomach the idea she could have had a hand in the history books.

"That breaks my heart, questions like that, but I do think about it," Watson said.

"I've watched the match over and that's like the worst thing ever because I just want to go back and hit that shot a little differently.

"But I can only learn from it now and make sure I don't make the same mistake next time."

Watson, the 2009 junior US Open champion, is yet to go past the first round in four attempts at Flushing Meadows but she has endured some tough draws too, losing to Maria Sharapova, Li Na and Simona Halep.

Davis, ranked number 84 in the world, represents a very realistic opportunity.

"I feel like every year I've come here and prepared for my matches I've always felt really good on these courts, I feel like this is my game," Watson said.

"I've never played (Davis) before so it will be a first time but I think I know her game quite well because I've seen play quite a lot on the tour.

"She's quite small and a very good mover, a nimble road runner, a hustler - so I will have to be aggressive and confident with my shots."

Watson is the only British player in action on Monday with Laura Robson, Johanna Konta, Andy Murray, Aljaz Bedene and James Ward all opening up on Tuesday.

Murray's clash with Australian firebrand Nick Kyrgios is the pick of the ties but the Scot arrives at Flushing Meadows in excellent form, having beaten Novak Djokovic in Montreal last month, ending a run of eight straight defeats against the Serb.

"It was a big win for me for a bunch of reasons," Murray told Sky Sports.

"After Washington (where Murray lost in the second round), to come back and win the tournament there was big and also against Novak, coming back and being very strong in the third set.

"A couple of times this year, the final sets of matches have got away from me. That could have happened again in Montreal but I stayed strong and got a big win there.

"It's important for me and important for me to get that confidence ahead of the US Open."

Source: PA