Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
British No 2 ‘gutted’ Wimbledon won’t go ahead in the summer
BRITISH No 2 Heather Watson i s “gutted” this year’s Wimbledon was cancelled but hopes the tennis calendar can resume as soon as possible.
The t ournament was scheduled to take place at the All England Club from June 29 - July 12 but was called off last week because of the coronavirus crisis.
Watson reached the top 50 of the WTA singles rankings before the pandemic halted all play until at least the middle of July.
The 27-year-old said: “The grasscourt season is just the highlight of my life.
“I love it and live for it every year so I’m gutted, but it’s a tough time for everyone and I just hope that everyone gets through this safe and as quick as possible.”
She also recalled winning her only grand slam title of her career to date when she claimed the mixed doubles with
Finland’s Henri Kontinen in 2016.
She said: “One of the best days of my life was winning the mixed doubles with Henri and it was the f i r st ti m e we p l a y e d together and got on like a house on fire.
“We are complete opposites but it j ust worked. He i s such an incredible player. The support was amazing, I was the only Brit on the court so we were getting most of the support.
“To win a title at Wimbledon, no matter what it is, you are on history walls forever and nobody can take that away from you so I’ m really proud of myself for that and the trophy is front and centre in my living room.”
Wa t s o n l a s t mo n t h ended a four-year wait for a WTA title when she beat Canadian Leylah Fernandez in an entertaining final in Acapulco.
“It was awesome. I’m in a very good place,” she said.