Brit Heather Watson’s title defence is on track, moving into the second round with a comprehensive victory over Brazilian Teliana Pereira in the first night session of the tournament this evening.
The 23-year-old needed 73 minutes on centre court to wrap up a 6-3 6-0 victory.
“I was very happy with how I played today,” she said. “At the beginning of the match it was very competitive and it was close, not because I wasn’t playing well but that she was playing very well.”
Watson was struggling early on serve, but Pereira only managed to convert one of 10 break point opportunities in the opening set.
“I think that game at 2-all to hold serve was crucial because after that I went away with the match,” Watson said.
The world No.53 reeled off the final seven games to finish the match in comprehensive fashion, losing just 12 points in the second set.
“I think when coming back to a tournament you’ve done well in the year before, getting past that first round is the toughest bit because there is a few more nerves, but I feel that I dealt with it well today and that in my next match, I’ll hopefully play even better,” she said.
This year’s event has been lauded one of the strongest fields in the tournament’s 23-year history. Former Grand Slam finalists Dominika Cibulkova and Eugenie Bouchard shape as big challenges as Watson aims to become the first player to win back-to-back Hobart International titles. But Watson isn’t worried, revealing she is looking no further than her next opponent – which is Romanian fourth seed Monica Niculescu.
“I don’t look at the full draw, I literally find my name and see who my first opponent is, that’s all I focus on,” she said.
> Read about Niculescu’s first round win
Watson was the story of the 2015 Hobart International, tearing through the draw without dropping a set to win the second WTA Tour title of her career. She said she was excited to be back and not feeling the additional pressure of being the defending champion.
“I like to see my picture on the walls,” Watson said.
“I remember when I won Osaka in 2012 and I came back in 2013, I wasn’t in great form and I was just so nervous to defend all those points. It was my first title defence and I didn’t deal with it well at all. I just couldn’t wait for the tournament to be over and I lost first round there and it was done. But this time round, I’m the total opposite. I’m really happy to be back here. As soon as I hit the first day I was playing really well. I don’t know what it is, but I really like it here and I think today showed that I am enjoying the court and playing well.”
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