Heather Watson joined Laura Robson in the main draw of
the Australian Open after claiming a tense 6-4 7-6 (7/1) victory over America's
Irina Falconi in the final round of qualifying.
The 21-year-old found herself having to qualify for a
grand slam for the first time since the French Open in 2012 following her
battle with glandular fever last year.
Watson admitted to nerves after her first-round win
because of her desperation to come through the three matches, and it was a
similar story against Falconi.
The British No 3 looked the better player throughout the
match but struggled to take her opportunities.
She broke serve to lead 5-3 in the opening set and held
two set points on her own serve only for Falconi to hit back. Two more set
points went begging in the next game before a double fault from the American
decided it.
Hit back
Watson hit back from an early break down in the second
set and had two match points at 5-4 but overcooked her shots both times.
She had no such problems in the tie-break, though,
winning seven points in a row to clinch victory after two hours and three
minutes.
It is the first time Watson has qualified at the
Australian Open, matching her achievement at the French Open, where she has
done it twice.
The Guernsey player still has a lot to do if she is to
repeat last year's performance, though, when she reached the third round.
Watson joins Robson and Andy Murray in the main draw, the
only one of six British players to make it through qualifying.
Falconi was also later handed a place in the main draw as
a lucky loser when American Jamie Hampton withdrew due to a hip injury.
She will play Jana Cepelova of Slovakia in the first
round at Melbourne Park.
Hampton was seeded 27th in the tournament, a placing that
will now go to Bojana Jovanovski of Serbia.
Culled from Skysports
