Rising star Watson lost her first round match against Mathilde Johansson 2-6 6-4 6-4 after a tough battle which saw the British player injure her right arm at 2-4 down in the second set, having confidently taken the first 6-2.

Watson received a medical time-out and heavy strapping was applied to her elbow. As soon as the 19-year-old from Guernsey returned to the court it was evident she was struggling to serve and contend with the injury.

After battling hard with Johansson in the third set, a tearful Watson eventually succumbed when she netted a forehand on Johansson’s fourth match point.

"I've never felt anything like this before," said Watson after the match. "I really wanted to win and I thought I had the match. I'm just asking myself now, 'Why me?'.

"Why couldn't it [the injury] have happened in another tournament? Why this one? This was the hardest defeat of my professional career because it was a great opportunity for me.

"I know how to play tennis. This is what I prepare for. This is why I play tennis every day, so I should be ready. I feel like I should be winning these matches. That's why I'm so annoyed."

British number three Anne Keothavong is also out of the tournament after being comprehensively outplayed by in-form eighth seed Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic.

Kvitova, a semi-finalist here last year powered to victory 6-2 6-1.

There was joy for one British woman on Wednesday though with 256th-ranked 17-year-old Laura Robson producing an upset after a tough three set win over 77th-ranked German Angelique Kerber 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-3.

Former Wimbledon Junior champion Robson battled hard and came up with the shots when needed, with her forehand working particularly well, to advance to the second round where she will face Maria Sharapova of Russia.