THIRTEEN double faults did not prove unlucky for Heather Watson (pictured) as she overcame a dangerous opponent in the first round of the junior girls singles at the US Open.

But she will have to improve on her serving stats if she is to make a serious title bid at the last of the year’s majors.

Watson, seeded 11, deserves credit though for seeing off Russian Ksenia Kirillova, ranked 22 in the world to the Guernsey girl’s 14.

The match was a long one, lasting two-and-a-half hours, and Watson is probably pleased she was not required to play singles yesterday, only a first-round doubles match which she and Russian partner Yana Burchina lost to Ons Jabeur (Tunisia) and Sai-Sai Zheng (China).

Having won the first set against the Russian 6-2 in 37 minutes, the second dragged on 83 minutes as it went to a tiebreak which Watson lost 7-5. But Watson proved the stronger and sailed through the final set 6-1 in 32 minutes to book a second-round clash with American Courtney Dolehide.

Further ahead the likelihood is that Watson will have to face the second seed, Thailand’s Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, in the third round.

Lertcheewakarn would be a big hurdle to overcome for Watson who has been joined in the second round in New York by fellow Briton Laura Robson.