Miami Open wildcard Heather Watson captured her ninth win of the 2016 season with a comfortable win over the Czech Petra Cetkovska.
Watson Looks Strong
The Brit headed into her first round encounter with a 0-2 head-to-head against her lower-ranked opponent. But the world number 69 did not seem to hold any nerves as she saved a break point in the first game and took the 1-0 lead with clean, solid ball-striking. A tight game followed and went in the favor of the British number two. After taking her first break, she breezed to a 5-0 lead.
But, her Czech opponent avoided an opening bagel as she took her first game with a routine service hold. On her second set point, the in-form Watson stayed steady to grab the set six games to one after a forehand error from Cetkovska. In the 24 minute set, this year’s Abierto Monterrey Afirme champion outplayed the world number 123 in every statistic. The match looked like one way traffic in the favor of Heather Watson as she had stayed positive and consistent.
Brit Safely Into Round Two
Despite a coaching visit after the one-sided opening set, Petra Cetkovska immediately went down a break in the second set. The aggressiveness increased in the wild card’s game and before she knew it, she had a chance to take a double-break lead after a blazing backhand down the line winner. A consolidation on Watson’s serve then yet another break put her within one game of the second round.
Serving up 5-0, last year’s Hobart champion had expanded the gap between her and her opponent. Time had run out for the Czech. On the Brit’s second match point, a Cetkovska forehand slid wide handing the wild card the 6-1, 6-0 victory. She only needed 47 minutes to grab her first win over Cetkovska and her second consecutive Miami Open second round.
“I’m very happy with today. But I don’t think my opponent was at her best,” Heather Watson told the BBC Sport.
What Is Next?
Heather Watson is set to face-off against the American Sloane Stephens on Thursday. Their meeting on the Stadium court will be their seventh career meeting as the Brit leads the series four wins to two. It shall be one to watch as both of the 23-year-olds have captured a title in Mexico this year.
“It will definitely be a tough next round against Sloane,” the world number 69 said as she looked forward to tomorrow’s third match on the Stadium court. “We’ve known each other for a very long time and she’s a great player, a great all-around athlete.”