AO Diary 2013: Robson e Watson, semplicemente grandi (The Guardian)

19-01-2013

Women's tennis is at a fascinating crossroads in Britain. Pointing one way is Laura Robson, whose power, coolness and unpredictability on court make her tough to beat, interesting to watch and compelling to listen to.

Facing in another direction is Heather Watson. Her game is less muscular, more energetic but just as sunny, as she talks with upbeat honesty, win or lose. Friday was one of those days when she had to reflect on defeat. It was not an entirely gloomy exercise, though.

Watson sees something of herself in Agnieszka Radwanska, the player of the moment in the women's draw at the Australian Open.

Radwanska beat Watson in straight sets again at a major but it was closer than the 6-3, 6-1 score suggests – and a long way a better performance by the British No1 than when the Pole blew her away at Wimbledon last year.

"I think it's great that she's got to the top playing such a different game," Watson said of Radwanska, whose slight physique does not fit the modern, muscled cliche, and whose brain operates a couple of clicks quicker than nearly everyone on the tour.

"It's quite refreshing, because lots of the girls just want to hit one or two shots, big serve, smack a return. It makes it more interesting to play and to watch somebody who builds a point and works a point."

It is an interesting observation. The obvious comparison is with Robson, whose high-voltage tennis puts her firmly in the other camp and who went shot for shot for exactly three hours with another big-hitter, Petra Kvitova, on Thursday night.

Watson saw off another robust challenge in Ksenia Pervak. It was a grinding survival exercise, as she fought cramp and her own game. In the third round, however, the challenge was completely different, and far more difficult, because it was not just about working out how to last the distance physically. It was way more cerebral.

Watson says it is tough to read Radwanska's game because of her variety, consistency and intelligence.

"The ball isn't coming that fast but it's coming back every single time. My game plan was to come to the net a bit more; I like coming to the net. I think that worked well. There were a few times I came in at the wrong time but one thing she's very good at is when she's pulled wide, she's just got so much control of the ball.

"A few times I thought when I hit an angle she'd come back with an angle but she went for the lower percentage shot down the line – but for her it's higher percentage."

That is the gauge. The best players make the hard stuff look easier. They also do it more often and at the right time.

Watson knows what she has to improve in her game to get closer to Radwanska and her ilk in big tournaments.

"I want to continue being aggressive and coming to the net. My serve, which was tough to do this week because of the injury I have had, I have to work on. And just learning how to take my chances and play the important moments better, because you don't get many chances against the top players. You need to take them when you get them."

She did not do that here. But she was at close quarters watching someone who did. Some times in defeat, it is the loser who wins too. For Watson, this might have been one of those matches.

For Robson the other route is just as intriguing. What makes it a great narrative for British tennis is that, somewhere down the line, they should meet in a big match. If it happens when their respective games have reached a peak, it will be collision to savour.