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Heather Watson celebrates her third-round win over Agnieszka Radwanska at Indian Wells. Photograph: Ella Ling/BPI/Rex
Heather Watson celebrates her third-round win over Agnieszka Radwanska at Indian Wells. Photograph: Ella Ling/BPI/Rex

Heather Watson sees off Agnieszka Radwanska and sails into fourth round

This article is more than 9 years old

World No43 defeats No7 seed in straight sets
Watson next faces Suárez Navarro or Pavlyuchenkova

Heather Watson claimed the biggest win of her career as she beat Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 6-4 to move into the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open.

Watson had never beaten a top-10 player before and had lost to Radwanska at Indian Wells last year but she broke the No7 seed five times on her way to victory in an hour and 33 minutes.

Victory in Hobart during January had given Watson the second title of her career and the world No43 will now take on either Carla Suárez Navarro or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the last-16.

The 22-year-old had not won a set against Radwanska in three previous WTA meetings but broke in the first game on her second break point and then held her save to take a 2-0 lead.

Radwanska held and then broke back but Watson was giving her opponent some serious trouble and once again claimed the advantage on a fourth break point.

The rest of the set went with serve but it was Radwanska who was being made to work the harder and Watson closed out with an ace.

The Guernsey woman needed just one break point to again take the early advantage in the second set and she then held her serve again although Radwanska won the third game to love.

The Pole seemed to have found some rhythm and just as in the first set broke back for 2-2, although she required three break points to do so.

Radwanska was beginning to build up a head of steam now and eased through her next service game before breaking Watson to make it four games in a row.

The match looked to be swinging Radwanska’s way but Watson halted her momentum by getting back on serve and seeing off two break points for an impressive hold to make it 4-4.

The momentum was now back with Watson and she won the next on a second break point before serving out to love to take the match.

“Aga is a fantastic player,” Watson told BT Sport 2. “I’ve played her quite a few times and she’s beaten me pretty comfortably every single time so I knew I was going to have to bring my A-game and play my very best and that’s what I did.

“The crowd definitely helped me today. I absolutely love it here. What’s not to love? For three years I didn’t win a match here and then last year I won a couple and here I’ve won a few more so hopefully I can keep it going.”

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