The face of Serena Williams adorns billboard, newspapers and magazine covers across this city as she goes for the final leg in the calendar year grand slam this week at the US Open.

No one has dominated the sport like Williams has since the days of Steffi Graf, the last woman to win all four slams in a calendar year back in 1988, and despite a tough draw, few are betting against her emulating the feat of the German, Maureen Connolly and Margaret Court.

So it’s funny, then, to think that had Britain’s Heather Watson won two more points at Wimbledon this year, she would have prevented history in the making.

“That breaks my heart, questions like that,” Watson said as she prepared for her opening match at the US Open, a place where she won the junior title but has yet to win a match in the main draw.

“But I do think about it and I do think back and I’ve watched the match over and that’s like the worst thing ever because I just want to go back and hit that shot a little different.

“But I can only learn from it now and make sure I don’t make the same mistake next time.”

While Williams has come through a number of tough situations in the three grand slams so far this year, Watson pushed her closest of all.

She served for the match in the final set and standing two points from the biggest win of her life and what would have been one of the biggest shocks in Wimbledon history.

Watson clearly doesn’t enjoy talking about the match – nor does she quite adhere to the opinion that it’s one she should be proud of, quite simply because she lost it.

But having watched it back, just once, she is happy with the way she played and has no regrets, other than that she didn’t quite make it.

“When you watch the match back, 30-all I was serving to give myself match point, I hit a forehand that kind of wrong-footed her and she just got it back,” she said.

“I’m thinking, if I’d hit it just a little bit harder then I could have had match point but then she played the next point too good and she’s so experienced and knows how to control her nerves and everything so well. That’s why she won.

Having slipped a few places this year to No 61 in the rankings, Watson is frustrated with her inconsistency but determined to finally win a senior match at Flushing Meadows.

That match is against the American Lauren Davis, ranked 84 and who at 5ft 2in is one of the shortest players on the Tour.

“I’ve practiced with her a few times but not recently,” Watson said. “I’ve never played before but I think I know her game quite well because I’ve seen play quite a lot. She’s quite small and a very good mover, a nimble road runner. A hustler. So I will have to be aggressive and confident with my shots.”

“I haven’t played in the way I have wanted to since that (Wimbledon) match. Right now I am really pleased with the way I am playing but I haven’t got the results I want. I played well (at Wimbledon) but didn’t capitalise on it. Now I feel like I’m slowly starting to find my game and now I need to start winning.”

Jo Konta, on a 14-match winning streak since Wimbledon, and Laura Robson, still in the early stages of her comeback after 18 months out through injury, both play their openers tomorrow.