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Heather Watson through to Nottingham Open second round, Sonay Kartal eliminated

Heather Watson through to Nottingham Open second round, Sonay Kartal eliminated
© Reuters
Great Britain's Heather Watson beats Jule Niemeier in the first round of the Nottingham Open, but Sonay Kartal is knocked out by Magdalena Frech.

Former British number one Heather Watson advanced to the second round of the Nottingham Open on Monday, but there was disappointment for Sonay Kartal.

Watson prevailed 6-4 6-3 against Germany's Jule Niemeier in round one, but Kartal's run came to an end in a 3-6 7-5 2-6 defeat to Poland's Magdalena Frech.

One year on from losing to Niemeier in straight sets in the last 16 at Wimbledon, Watson avenged that defeat thanks to a stellar comeback in the opening exchanges.

The 31-year-old - who was forced to go through qualifying to reach the first round - was broken in her opening service game and fell 4-1 down in the first set, but Niemeier's superiority was short-lived.

Watson embarked on a five-game winning streak to take the first set with a final hold to love, but Niemeier was not fazed and had another chance to break the Brit's serve in the first game of the second set, although she failed to take it.

Watson subsequently broke the German in the fifth and seventh games to move four points away from a place in round two, but she double-faulted twice while serving for the match and sent a backhand long to gift Niemeier a route back into the match.

Heather Watson in action at the Nottingham Open on June 6, 2022© Reuters

However, the world number 118 could not capitalise, and despite saving one match point, she also overcooked a backhand as Watson set up a second-round meeting with Wimbledon semi-finalist Tatjana Maria.

Watson's triumph was her first WTA main-draw win since the ATX Open in February, but fellow qualifier Kartal could not join her compatriot in the second round as she lost to Frech in three sets with two hours and eight minutes on the clock.

Facing a woman ranked 195 places higher than her in the WTA standings, Kartal held her own in the earliest exchanges but lost her serve in the seventh and ninth games of the first set.

Despite facing more aces from Frech in the second set, Kartal broke twice herself to settle a 12-game battle and force a decider, but she could not recover after losing four of the first five games.

Frech broke Kartal to 15 one final time to seal a spot in round two, where she will face China's Lin Zhu, but Great Britain will be well-represented in Tuesday's first-round matches.

Katie Boulter - who has overtaken Emma Raducanu as GB's new number one - will face Emily Appleton, while Katie Swan, Jodie Burrage and Harriet Dart will also be in action.

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Written by
Ben Knapton

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Heather Watson in action at the Nottingham Open on June 6, 2022
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