Heather Watson loses to Serena Williams in Wimbledon thriller

The 23-year-old battled back from a set down, winning six straight games from 3-3 in the second set.

Watson served for the match at 5-4 in the decider but five-time Wimbledon champion Williams recovered to win 6-2 4-6 7-5 in two hours and 15 minutes.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion will play her elder sister Venus next.

It was a tough, tough ask today. But I was super, super close. I think that’s what really hurts the most,” said Watson.

“I honestly didn’t think I was going to win,” Williams said. “How I pulled through, I really don’t know.

“I just was like, ‘listen, if I’m going to go lose, I’m going to lose trying to do the right things’.”