HEATHER Watson came agonisingly close to recording the greatest win of her career this evening before going down 2-6, 6-4, 5-7 to Serena Williams on Centre Court.

The British No 1 had never gone further than the third round here, but here she looked like doing so by beating the world No 1 and top seed. But after losing the first set without being able to put up much of a fight, she staged an inspired comeback in the second, then raced into a 3-0 lead in front of an increasingly partisan crowd.

While Williams's power was formidable as ever, Watson was able to trade blows with her by timing her returns superbly. The key to her taking the advantage was her superior mobility: if the bulky American has a weakness, it is her tendency to look heavy-footed when forced from side to side of the court.

Williams still hit back from that perilous position of being 3-0 down to take the next four games. Was that the natural order restored? Not quite, because after holding her own serve to make it 4-4, Watson then broke Williams again to love, just as the match reached the two-hour mark.

Serving for the match, Watson was under incredible pressure. She came within two points of victory - but only when she closed to 30-40.

Eventually, on her fourth break point, the American took the game to make it 5-5. She then held easily to go 6-5 up. Serving to stay in the match, Watson saved two match points, but could not do so a third time.

Even allowing for Williams's superior experience - she is a decade older than her British opponent and has played hundreds more matches at this level - it still has to go down as one that got away for Watson. Having said that, she showed that, after a long spell out with illness, she is capable of continuing to improve on her world ranking. Once the initial disappointment of defeat is over, she can learn from - and be inspired by - this result.

Serena now plays her sister Venus in Monday's fourth round.