Maria Sharapova Beats Britain's Heather Watson

British teenager Heather Watson gave former champion Maria Sharapova an almighty scare before the Russian prevailed on day one in every of the US Open.

Watson, 19, led 6-3 5-5 at one stage however eventually went down 3-6 7-5 6-3 in an exceedingly dramatic match at Flushing Meadows.

The Briton had been given very little probability against Sharapova, ranked one hundred places higher at fourth, however virtually made one in every of the good US Open shocks.

Watson's fellow Briton Laura Robson earlier created it through to spherical 2.

Robson progressed when her Japanese opponent Ayumi Morita retired with a shoulder injury, however it had been Watson's performance that took centre stage on Monday.

"I had lots of fun nowadays," said the teenager from Guernsey. "It's what i need to try to to. i need to be out there on the massive courts taking part in the highest players. it had been a very nice match, terribly competitive. we tend to played some extremely nice tennis.

"I had my possibilities within the second set. you have got to form the chance however additionally execute, and that i was in all probability slightly too defensive on those details.

"But I continuously believed I might win. there isn't any purpose in my going out there if i do not believe that I will win."

Watson, the 2009 junior champion, was taking part in within the US Open main draw for the primary time, however despite it being the highest-profile match of her life she took to the imposing surroundings of Arthur Ashe Stadium sort of a natural.

Sharapova, seeded third, was widely seen because the second favorite for the tournament behind Serena Williams, however the erratic serving that has blighted her this year was still in proof.

Watson required no encouragement, standing near the baseline and going toe-to-toe with the Russian's significant groundstrokes, and she or he broke to like at the primary chance.

When Sharapova broke back immediately it appeared the previous world much loved was getting ready to take management, however another double-fault handed the advantage back to the Briton and she or he failed to relinquish it.

After changing her third set purpose in game 9, Watson immediately broke at the beginning of the second set and it had been panic stations for Sharapova.

The decibel level increased with the pace of the Russian's groundstrokes and she or he bludgeoned her method back to parity before the ability began to inform and she or he moved 4-1 clear, however it had been not totally convincing and her sixth double fault of the day brought Watson back on serve.

Three excellent points got Watson of bother when she served at 5-4 down and 0-30, however Sharapova created the breakthrough at ensuing chance to level at one set all.

Watson's resistance was removed from over and it took a marked improvement in Sharapova's type for the 2006 champion to finally dominate, battling into a 4-1 lead and having break points for 5-1.

The 24-year-old couldn't quite shake off the Briton, however, and was pegged back to 4-3 before a fine come game gave Sharapova the possibility to finally serve for the match.

Few will have expected Watson to stay such an illustrious opponent on court for 2 hours and thirty four minutes however that was how long the Russian needed to shut out the victory.

"It was one in every of the toughest (opening matches) that I've had," said Sharapova. "Obviously not extremely knowing an excessive amount of concerning my opponent and not facing her before, she simply came out and played extremely good.

"There's little doubt that I wasn't taking part in my best tennis. She was good in creating me hit another ball. i used to be creating such a lot of errors out there. She stuck to her game set up. She kept grinding."