Heather Watson has been eliminated from the Korea Open following her loss to Marta Kostyuk

Heather Watson has exited the Korea Open after losing in straight sets to Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk.

The 32-year-old qualifier, who is currently ranked 183rd in the world, faced a disappointing loss with the final scores reading 6-2, 6-2 in the second round. Despite her efforts, Watson struggled against the formidable skills of Kostyuk, who is positioned at 18th in the world rankings. The 22-year-old Ukrainian showcased her talent and determination as she sealed the match with a straightforward victory.

In a more promising turn for British tennis, Emma Raducanu, currently the country’s number two player, managed to earn a hard-fought win against American Peyton Stearns on Tuesday. Raducanu’s resilience on the court will now lead her to a matchup against China’s Yue Yuan, as she vies for a place in the quarter-finals. This prospect brings hope to British fans looking for strong performances at the tournament.

Watson, meanwhile, had recently faced challenges, including failing to qualify for the US Open main draw just last month. Following her loss of serve in the very first game of the match, she responded immediately, exhibiting a fighting spirit. However, Kostyuk quickly dominated, winning five of the next six games to clinch the opening set decisively.

In her first-round victory over China’s Jia-Jing Lu, Watson celebrated her third main draw win of the season, a point of pride in what has been an otherwise difficult campaign. Unfortunately, as the match progressed, she could not mount the fightback she needed; after dropping serve once more, Kostyuk raced to victory, achieving a double break in the second set that left Watson unable to recover.

Overall, Watson’s exit from the Korea Open raises questions about her performance and what adjustments she may need to make moving forward, while Kostyuk’s advancement highlights her burgeoning prowess as a rising star in women’s tennis.