'Very tricky' Heather Watson loses to Belinda Bencic in straight sets in the third round of the Miami Open
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Updated 26/03/2022 at 20:08 GMT
Heather Watson secured her first win over a top 20 player since 2020 when she surprisingly came from behind to knock out Elina Svitolina in the second round of the Miami Open. It was also the first time she has won back-to-back WTA 1000 matches since Miami in 2016. However, Olympic champion Belinda Bencic proved to be too formidable an opponent for Watson and the Swiss marches into the last-16.
Heather Watson
Image credit: Getty Images
Great Britain's Heather Watson has been knocked out of the Miami Open after losing 6-4 6-1 to Belinda Bencic in the third round in 86 minutes.
Watson, who was looking to break into the top 100 in the WTA rankings, entered the match off the back of fine comeback wins against Arantxa Rus and Elina Svitolina.
But she could not match the quality displayed by world No. 4 Bencic, who has strengthened her head-to-head record to a 2-0 against the world No. 115.
Bencic will play Belarus' Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the last-16.
"She's a very tricky player," Bencic said about Watson in her on-court interview after the straight sets win.
"I haven't played her in a long time. It's always very difficult because you don't know how it feels [to play her].
"She played with a lot of control and she tries to take you out of position. It was very tricky at the start but I'm happy I found my flow and happy to be through."
Watson, a four-time WTA titlist, pressured Bencic early on but was not able to capitalise on any of her seven break points.
The pair were locked at 2-2 with each game averaging six minutes which was visibly frustrating Bencic in the hot conditions.
Watson was handed the break she deserved to move into a 4-2 lead as Bencic double faulted, but Bencic immediately broke back with disguised backhand handing her the break point before Watson fired a wild backhand into the net.
Watson's second double fault gave Bencic the chance to take the lead and the Swiss took it as the Brit mishit her forehand before chucking her racquet on the ground.
Bencic held her serve to seal the opening set in 58 minutes, finishing off with a smash.
Momentum was clearly with the Olympic champion as she reeled off three points in a row in the opening game of the second set on the Watson serve.
Watson pulled a point back, but she then produced another wayward forehand which saw the tournament's 22nd seed break her for the third time in a row.
The 29-year-old was looking less willing to be dragged into rallies and was attempting more forehand winners, but it only led to more unforced errors and Bencic secured a double break to go 4-1 up.
At 5-1 up on the Watson serve, Bencic sensed an opportunity to wrap the match up and she took it as Watson hit a forehand deep on match point.
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