Next up on Centre Court it's Britain's Heather Watson. The Guernsey-born starlet faces a huge challenge against German ninth seed, Angelique Kerber. The players are due on court shortly.

GAME, SET AND MATCH! - WATSON 2-6 7-5 1-6 KERBER - A brave display by Watson ultimately ends in a three-set loss as she lets another winning position at 40-30 slip away, saving three match points before crashing an easy shot into the net on the fourth. The British number one started poorly and finished a frustrated figure, but in the middle of this encounter she gave the number nine seed an almighty scare. The 22-year-old will have further enhanced her reputation after this and will take away a great deal of positives from the experience.

WATSON 2-6 7-5 1-5 KERBER - The German chooses the perfect moment to surge through her service game to leave Watson on the brink. The British number one must now serve to stay in it.

WATSON 2-6 7-5 1-4 KERBER - BREAK! The pendulum swings back heavily in favour of Kerber as a closely-fought game slips away from the Brit. An extravagant overhead puts Watson 40-30 up, but those weak second serves and propensity for an unforced error or two cost her. A shot into the net at break point is followed by a shriek of despair. The 22-year-old knows that could be curtains.

WATSON 2-6 7-5 1-3 KERBER - BREAK! Watson just doesn't know when she's beaten, does she? From out of nowhere she summons that underdog spirit and clocks up a trio of break points with some astonishing defensive work that ends with Kerber netting. The German nicks one back, but Watson isn't to be denied and gives herself hope by clawing a break back.

WATSON 2-6 7-5 0-3 KERBER - BREAK! The British number one's euphoria at taking that second set has quickly turned into deflation. Watson's level has dipped slightly and Kerber has taken full advantage. Some deep approach shots have the world number 60 on the defensive and she faces two more break points, coming unstuck on the second when she drills a shot long of the baseline. Kerber is a double break up and looking more and more confident.

WATSON 2-6 7-5 0-2 KERBER - The German consolidates the break with some more wonderful defence and falls to the floor as she somehow digs out a winner with Watson too far left on her side of the court.

WATSON 2-6 7-5 0-1 KERBER - BREAK! Watson just keeps battling, but this time she can't pull off the great escape. The Brit staves off a trio of break points but finally succumbs to Kerber's attack when she can only steer a volley into the net. Just what Watson didn't want after working so hard to get level in this match.

WATSON 2-6 7-5 KERBER - SET! Watson has done it! She's really risen to the challenge now after being overwhelmed in the first set. A deft volley at the net sees the 22-year-old claim set point but she fizzes long and then sees another chance go begging when Kerber unleashes one of the shots of the match down the line with pure, brute power. A third opportunity proves third time lucky as Kerber can only steer into the net after Watson had fizzed another belter down to the right side of the German's baseline. This one could go either way now; into a deciding set we go!

WATSON 2-6 6-5 KERBER - Watson makes life a bit more difficult for herself as she flitters away a 30-0 lead with two attempted winners that land just long. However, she gathers her composure with a big first serve and then produces a satisfied fist pump when Kerber drags a backhand wide.

WATSON 2-6 5-5 KERBER - Kerber's ability to switch from defence into attack with a twist of her wrist proves too effective and she pulls off her own big hold. A controlled volley at the net to cut out Watson's passing shot puts her 40-15 up and a rasping forehand into the corner means it's all over a bit too quickly from the Brit's point of view.

WATSON 2-6 5-4 KERBER - Courageous tennis and a monumental hold for Watson that puts her within sight of nicking this set. The British number one saves four break points with a trio of sublime winners and by forcing Kerber to net following another storming rally. It is one of the most absorbing games of the match and could yet prove pivotal. Another fabulous shot down the line gives Watson the edge and she finally comes through a testing service game when the ninth seed fires an exhausted attempt into the net under little pressure.

WATSON 2-6 4-4 KERBER - BREAK! The best rally of the match is won by Watson at 15-15 and the German then flashes a shot long to put a fourth straight break in this set on the cards. Kerber saves one with an ace but Watson comes into the net and steers a lovely winner into the open court to hit straight back. An unpredictable game but hugely entertaining.

WATSON 2-6 3-4 KERBER - BREAK! Watson's momentum is spiked by a stunning shot on the stretch that drops just in for Kerber to tee up an OP at 15-30. A scolding forehand lands the German a pair of break points and the ninth seed is gifted the game at the second time of asking when Watson fizzes wildly wide.

WATSON 2-6 3-3 KERBER - BREAK! A wonderful pick-up shot angled into the free court gets the subdued centre court crowd roaring their approval to Watson. She responds by forcing Kerber to twice hit long and break back to love. This really is a topsy-turvy encounter; impossible to predict.

WATSON 2-6 2-3 KERBER - BREAK! The German shows great athleticism to reach a Watson drop shot, but it's the Brit's propensity to overcook what should be clear winners that are putting her in all sorts of trouble. At 15-40 she saves one break point before flashing another loose shot wide into the right-hand alley she is facing.

WATSON 2-6 2-2 KERBER - This is developing into a much more even affair. A wonderful winner into the right-hand corner of Kerber's court cranks up the heat at deuce, but Watson can't make it count, missing the baseline by an inch before blasting wide with a crosscourt attempt. You can't afford to waste good openings like that. It could prove costly.

WATSON 2-6 2-1 KERBER - A brilliant backhand winner down the line puts Watson in control and she comes good in a superb final rally to coolly steer into the open court after Kerber almost got lucky with a net cord on the run. Now, can she really start to turn the screw on that Kerber serve and make a match of this?

WATSON 2-6 1-1 KERBER - There are signs that Watson could make a real fight of this but she continues to let herself down on the key points. At 40-30 she is applying pressure on the Kerber serve but fires long. A shake of the head and a rueful thrash of her racket say it all.

WATSON 2-6 1-0 KERBER - Resilient play by the Brit. She blows the chance to get off to a comfortable start in this set by whittling away a 30-0 lead to face break point after deuce. Too many unforced errors and a low percentage of first serves in are giving Kerber cheap points, but to her credit, the world number 60 hit back and secured the hold with a wide serve and clinical despatch into the opposite corner.

WATSON 2-6 KERBER - SET! A stroll in the sun for Kerber so far. Watson digs in and gives herself a chance at 30-30 before undoing her good work with a tame shot into the net. An attempted winner then fails to clip the line and it's an uphill task from here for the Guernsey girl.