Watson wins rain-hit match in Paris
| French Open |
|---|
| Venue: Roland Garros, Paris Dates: 22 May to 5 June |
| Coverage: Live radio and text commentary on selected matches on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, the BBC Sport website and app. |
Britain’s Heather Watson beat Nicole Gibbs 5-7 6-2 6-2 in her rain-delayed match to book her place in the second round of the French Open in Paris.
Gibbs was serving at 2-1 up in the third set when the players were called off on Sunday because of heavy rain.
Following a further delay on Monday, Watson twice broke the American’s serve as she won five games in a row to seal victory and her place at the Olympics.
Compatriots Andy Murray, Kyle Edmund and Naomi Broady are in action later.
Murray takes on 37-year-old Czech Radek Stepanek, Edmund faces qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili, while Broady is scheduled to play American Coco Vandeweghe.
Rio qualification delights Watson
Qualifying for Rio has been at the forefront of Watson’s mind all season, with the British number two describing the London Games as the best experience of her career.
She arrived at Roland Garros with points to defend having reached the second round last year and a first-round loss would have left the world number 54 vulnerable.
The cut-off comes immediately after the French Open, with the 56 top-ranked eligible players qualifying. Given only four players from any one country can compete, a ranking in the low 60s will be good enough.
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