Neither Heather Watson or Lauren Davis had made it past the first round of the US Open before. One of them would be breaking that streak today, as they faced each other in the first round. In the first set both were staying close with each other, until the score got to 4-4.
Opening set to the American in a tiebreak
The American then struck and took her chance to break the Brits serve, leading 5-4 Davis would serve for the set. Watson was not done yet, and broke back to bring the match on level terms. Holding serve in the important next game put the scoreboard pressure back on the American, who came through in fine style to force the tiebreak.
In the first set tiebreak, the American made the most of the poor serving of the Brit to take a lead, despite Watson fighting back a few points, Davis clinched the tiebreak 7-3.
Moving into the second set and Watson was struggling still on serve, and the forehand was also not as effective as it had been in the first set, the Brit was soon down 2-0, however Watson again was not going to give up without a fight, and broke back to level the score once more.
With the score sitting at 4-4 in the second set, Watson managed to break again. The Brit would be serving to level the match and force a third set. Unfortunately, the American proved again that she was also not going away, breaking once again to level up. This set again headed to a tiebreak. With the Watson first serve not performing as it should in the tiebreak, Davis was soon in control. No matter what Watson tried the American had an answer for it, despite giving everything, hitting everything the Brit was just not getting anything on the Davis serves.
The turning point of the breaker was the third point in the tiebreak. Davis was well in control of the point with Watson using her strong movement to help her retrieve the balls Watson was hitting. In the middle of the point, the American got to the net and Watson lobbed her. The two started "moon balling" each other for a bit before Davis once again started to attack. She finished off the point with a volley to take a massive 3-0 lead with a double mini-break.
The American was very much in control of the tiebreak and took the match when the score was 7-0
Lauren Davis makes round two of the US Open for the first time, whilst Heather Watson must keep trying to attain that elusive first round win at Flushing Meadows.