(Picture by PA, 0988198)

HEATHER WATSON has missed out on the chance of facing one of the world’s top 10 players this week.

The 18-year-old Sarnian received a wildcard into the first round of the Sony Ericsson Open, one of the top events on the WTA Tour rated just a level below a Grand Slam, and had she won her opening match would have come up against former Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli. The French star was also runner-up at last week’s Indian Wells tournament.

However, last night in Miami, Watson suffered a 7-5, 6-2 defeat to the world No. 57 Ayumi Morita, who is 66 places above her in the rankings.

The Guernsey girl had led 5-2 in the first and served for the set, but her Japanese opponent reeled off five games in a row to take it and then took that momentum into the second, which she won in relatively quick time.

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