Skip to main content
Work with the NEU
Watson out to returning Azarenka
Heather Watson at last year's Wimbledon

HEATHER WATSON made a first-round exit at the Indian Wells Masters in the US after going down 6-4 6-2 to Victoria Azarenka.

The Belorussian former world No 1, playing her first WTA Tour match in eight months because she will not leave California due to an ongoing custody battle over her son, broke five times to Watson’s two to book a second-round meeting with US Open champion Sloane Stephens.

The match was Azarenka’s first since Wimbledon last year, with the custody battle seeing her pull out of both the US and Australian Opens.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
Arthur Fery of Great Britain celebrates victory over Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria following their Gentlemen's Singles match on day eight of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, July 6, 2026
Men’s Tennis / 7 July 2026
7 July 2026
Katie Boulter, July 2, 2025
Women’s Tennis / 26 February 2026
26 February 2026
Venus Williams of the U.S. hits a backhand to Magda Linette of Poland during her singles match of the ASB Classic Women's Tennis Tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, January 6, 2026. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP
Women’s tennis / 13 January 2026
13 January 2026
Venus Williams laughs as she holds the Women's Singles trophy on the Centre Court at Wimbledon Saturday, July 8, 2000
Women’s Tennis / 14 August 2025
14 August 2025

Tennis icon set to become oldest singles competitor at Flushing Meadows since 1981 after receiving wild-card entry — yet another historic moment in a career already filled with them, writes HOWARD FENDRICH