Heather Watson won her opening match at the BNP Paribas Open

Heather Watson followed up winning the Monterrey Open on Sunday by beating Galina Voskoboeva in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

Britain's number two overcame the Kazakh in three sets, prevailing 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-1 in front of her mother Michelle.

Watson started strongly, taking a 2-0 lead in the first set. But her opponent fought back, leaving Watson to hold her serve and force a tie-break. 

Heather Watson smiles after securing victory in her first-round match at Indian Wells on Wednesday

Watson was on court in Indian Wells just three days after winning her third WTA title in Monterrey

Watson fires down a serve in the Californian desert as the Brit books her place in the second round

The tie-break followed a similar pattern, with Watson going 2-0 ahead only to be pegged back. She again held her nerve, though, to take the first set.

Next it was Voskoboeva's turn to hold a 2-0 lead, and she turned that into a 6-4 win in the second.

Watson responded in style, not only going 2-0 up in the deciding set but finding a fine passing shot to turn that into a three-game advantage. She soon wrapped up the match in just under two-and-a-half hours.

'When it was important I was able to bring out my best tennis,' Watson said. 'Today I was a bit slow getting used to the court. It was a bit different (to the Monterrey Open).'

Watson receives coaching from her mother Michelle during a changeover in Indian Wells

Watson hits a backhand on her way to a three-set victory in her first match in Indian Wells

Galina Voskoboeva was making her return to the WTA tour after a long absence through injury