- Heather Watson battles to 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 win over Mayar Sherif
- Harriet Dart loses in straight sets to No 7 seed Iga Swiatek
Heather Watson rode her “positive wave” to a first grand slam victory for a year at the Australian Open. The British No 2 broke a seven-match losing streak dating back to August in Adelaide last week and said after a 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 victory over Mayar Sherif that she had rediscovered her love for the game during a pre-season training block in Florida.
“I’m really happy to get through this one because the last couple years have not been good for me,” Watson said. “I had a great pre-season in Florida and I found my love and joy for tennis and competing again. I feel like the last couple years I felt really anxious before matches, just really not even wanting to go out there, but trying to get over it because I know in sport there’s always ups and downs. Today I was excited to play. I couldn’t wait to get out on the court.”