THERE was no disgrace as Heather Watson was knocked out in the first round of Junior Wimbledon.
Playing on court 19 which is in the shadow of the impressive new court one and is bathed in the cheers and roars of ‘Henman Hill’, the 16-year-old took on Zuzana Luknarova in front of a crowd that built up to more than 500 by the end of the match.
The Slovakian was two years the Sarnian’s senior at 18 and it showed physically, as it looked like a woman taking on a girl – with Luknarova touching 6ft and towering over Watson.
But despite that and the fact that Luknarova has a junior world ranking of 51, while Watson’s is 227, Watson took the match to three sets and at one point looked good to win it. The under-16 British champion gave it her all and was a disappointed girl afterwards.
‘It was such a close match,’ she said.
‘She was a good player and tricky to play. She had some good shots but I should have taken my chances and I should have put them away.
‘All in all I’m pleased with my effort but I know I could have done better and won it. Next time.’
Percy Melzi, Watson’s coach from the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida, watched his young charge.
‘I’m proud of the way she played,’ said the American.
‘She will be stronger. She needs this kind of experience to make it and she’ll learn from this.’
From the start it became evident that the Slovakian had a booming backhand, but Watson was not to be undone and was finding rhythm with her ground strokes.
The match went with the serve until the sixth game when Luknarova broke Watson’s to make it 4-2.
This was the momentum she needed to ensure that she won the first set 6-3.
Watson was guilty of making too many unforced errors.
In the second set remarkably both players failed to hold on to their serves until the fifth game when Watson broke the deadlock and won with hers to lead 3-2.
Knowing that if she could break Luknarova in the next game she would grab the set by the scruff of the neck, that is exactly what she did. Now 4-2 up, Watson was in the driving seat and with both players holding on to their serves, she found herself 5-3 up and serving for the set.
It was another game that kept flitting between deuce and advantage as Watson could not kill off her opponent.
She then showed great maturity as she took her time to compose herself before winning the deuce point to go on to take the advantage with a stinging pass to win the set.
Watson was now buzzing and you had the feeling that she go all the way.
However, this was short-lived as Luknarova took the time between the sets to gather her thoughts and hit back immediately, breaking Watson’s serve to win the first game of the deciding set.
Before you knew it, Watson was three games down and looking out of it.
But showing great fighting spirit and buoyed on by the Wimbledon crowd that was getting behind the British player, she broke her opponent’s serve and then the following game without conceding a point.
Now on a roll she won against the serve again to make it 3-3.
Luknarova claimed the next and then in yet another epic game, Watson made it 4-4.
She really was serving well.
But Luknarova came back again to win the ninth game to go ahead and in the next Watson did well to hold off five match points. But it was the Slovakian who was bouncing up and down when she executed another wonderful cross- court backhander to win the point, game, set and match.
Watson was clearly distraught but she has loved every minute at Wimbledon.
And it is not over yet as she goes into the doubles with her partner Tara Moore.
They are taking on east European pair Bistra Otashliyska and Alyona Sotnikova today
‘It’s a really great experience,’ said Watson.
‘I love everything about playing here. Hearing people cheering me – it drives me on.’
Article posted on 30th June, 2008 - 2.30pm
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