Watson admits difficult in playing 'best friend' after Nottingham victory

Heather Watson admitted that it was tricky to play 'best friend' Tatjana Maria after stunning the German to reach the quarter-final of the LTA's Rothesay Open Nottingham. Watson was an underdog against her experienced opponent on Centre Court on Wednesday, with Maria ranked 129 spots above the Brit in the WTA rankings and a semi-finalist at Wimbledon last year. Ad However, world No.195 Watson produced a dazzling display of aggressive grass court tennis, rallying from an early break point down to prevail 6-4 6-4.

TennisLoffhagen credits aggressive tennis for keeping Nottingham run alive24 MINUTES AGO Victory made it four wins in a row for the 31-year-old after coming through the qualifying draw, and she believes there is more to come after prevailing against a familiar face. «I feel like as I've played each match here I've just got a little bit better and I feel like there's still more to come with my game,» she said. «I'm really happy with the way and the direction that it's moving, so I'm really looking forward to the next match.

»Tatjana, she's my best friend on tour. We've played doubles together on tour, we've won WTA titles and reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, and we do stuff off the court together. «It's never easy playing a friend but at the same time it was really special to share the court with her.» Watson faces another friend next in the form of Switzerland's Viktorija Golubic, a former Wimbledon quarter-finalist who defeated fourth seed and former Nottingham champion Donna Vekic on Wednesday.