Watson one win from qualifying for French Open
Heather Watson moved one match away from qualifying for the French Open after beating Tereza Smitkova in Paris.
The 25-year-old British number two beat the Czech 6-4 7-6 (7-3) despite going 4-1 down in the second set and being broken when serving for the match.
Watson will reach the first round if she beats Richel Hogenkamp on Friday.
Dutchwoman Hogenkamp, 25, won their only previous meeting in last year’s US Open first round and is 13 places above Watson at 105 in the world rankings.
Watson missed out on direct entry to a Grand Slam for the first time in three years after slipping down the rankings.
But she has qualified successfully three times before for Roland Garros, reaching the second round five times.