British teenager Heather Watson was reduced to tears at Wimbledon on Wednesday after an elbow injury scuppered her hopes of reaching the second round for the first time.

Watson, 19, looked to be on course for a place in the last 64 after taking the first set 6-2 in her tie with France's Mathilde Johansson on Court Three.

But an unexplained elbow injury early in the second set restricted her progress thereafter, letting her opponent back into the match and setting her up for a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 win.

Watson, ranked 106th in the world, later described the defeat as the most disappointing loss of her career.

"I've never felt anything like this," she said tearfully.

"I just really wanted to win today. And I thought I had the match. But it's just frustrating because I just really wanted to do well. I was playing really well. I believed in myself. I thought this was a great opportunity for me."

Watson, who won the junior US Open title in 2009, enhanced her status as one of her country's brightest prospects last month when she became the first British woman to win a match at Roland Garros for 17 years.

"I feel like I've had some experience and I've won a match in a Grand Slam. I just feel like there's no excuses now," she said.