Watson ends Miami drought in marathon match

Heather Watson fought back from a set and 4-1 down to beat Arantxa Rus 6-7(5),7-5,6-4 in a three and a half hour marathon in the Miami Open

The British No. 3 was broken in the opening game of the match against Rus but came back to lead 5-3 in the first set.

Rus the world No. 75 won three games in a row to take the set to a tie-break, which she took 7-5.

Watson, looked to be heading out at 4-1 down in the second set, but turned it round to take the match into a deciding set.

As the clock went past three hours both players broke twice but it was Watson who made the crucial break at 4-4, and managed to serve it out to set up a second round match against Ukranian Elina Svitolina the World No. 20

World No. 115 Watson reached the fourth round here in 2016 but has not won a main-draw match at the  Miami tournament since.

Roger Parker

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