By Eleanor Crooks, Press Association Sport Tennis Correspondent
Published: 14:38 GMT, 13 January 2019 | Updated: 15:28 GMT, 13 January 2019
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Heather Watson is hoping the Australian Open can help her break out of the 'vicious cycle' she has become trapped in.
There have been a few highs mixed with a lot of lows since the 26-year-old nearly caused a monumental shock against Serena Williams in the third round of Wimbledon in 2015.
At that stage her career still appeared very much on the up but last year she dropped out of the top 100 before climbing back again and will begin her campaign at Melbourne Park ranked 108.
Heather Watson is hoping the Australian Open can help her break out of a 'vicious cycle'
Watson is usually a positive talker so it was telling when she said ahead of her clash with 31st seed Petra Martic on Monday: 'I feel like the last year or two I've not been doing as well as I should be or could be doing.
'I've been working really hard so I'm just wanting the hard work to match the results. But the more I get older the more I realise how mental it is and how the most important thing is just being confident in yourself and being able to stay relaxed in those tense, important moments.
'I go back outside the top 100 and then, in my mind, I want to get straight back in immediately, but it doesn't always work out like that so I have to be patient.'
