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Heather Watson beats Roberta Vinci to reach second round of the Italian Open

British No1 Heather Watson eased past Roberta Vinci 6-3, 6-1 to reach the second round of the Italian Open in Rome.

Watson broke her Italian opponent twice to claim the first set before comprehensively taking the second.

The 22-year-old world No41, who went out in the first round of the Madrid Open earlier this month, next faces Kazakhstan’s Zarina Diyas in the clay-court tournament.

Defending champion Serena Williams, who received a bye into the second round, will play Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The Russian progressed with a surprise 6-4, 7-5 victory over Australia’s Sam Stosur.