Heather Watson secured qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in style with a first-round victory over American Nicole Gibbs at the French Open. In a match blighted by terrible weather conditions, the 24-year-old came from behind to draw level with Gibbs, before rain stopped play on Sunday evening with the score at 5-7, 6-2, 1-2. Day two’s action finally got back underway midway through the afternoon, with Watson preying on her opponent’s nerves despite being a break down to take five games on the bounce and claim a 6-2 victory in the deciding set. And following her renewed boost in determination coming into the day’s action, Watson admits the fixture has been one she hopes not to repeat any time soon. “It was very difficult,” she said. “I think the conditions, with it being very rainy, suited her game style more than mine and we had a lot of rain delays. “It was a very long day yesterday – I was up at 8am and home at 9pm, and then had to come back here early again today and hang around all day. “In my mindset today I just had to accept the conditions and just try and adapt my game style to it because it hasn’t really worked over the last couple of days. “I think today being a bit drier later on definitely helped. “When it’s wet, the ball gets heavier and it’s harder to hit because it just stops, and that’s what I was having difficulty with yesterday. But today was very different.” Watson will face Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia in the second round, after the double Grand Slam winner defeated Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova 4-6 6-1 6-4. And for British No.2 Watson, the tie will see her step into the unknown as she looks to progress in Paris. “I can’t remember if I’ve ever played her, but she’s obviously a very good player and a Grand Slam champion,” she said. “I know she really enjoys the clay, she plays and trains on the clay a lot so that won’t be an easy match.
Sportsbeat 2016