Tennis: Heather Watson out of Auckland

British No 3 Heather Watson will miss the opening tournament of the new season in Auckland next week after suffering an ankle injury.

It is a blow for the 19-year-old, who earned big points in New Zealand last year by coming through qualifying and reaching the quarter-finals.

Watson, ranked 92nd in the world, will now hope to begin her season in Hobart in two weeks’ time and can at least take comfort from being a direct entrant into the Australian Open, where she will play in the main draw for the first time.