Watson’s breaking new ground after knocking on door for years

BRITISH tennis cannot always be relied upon to deliver and there was always a risk that in scheduling Sunday play for the first time at Wimbledon the historic occasion would turn out to be a domestic washout.

But in defeating Kaja Juvan in straight sets to book her slot for Sunday service on an animated No.1 court, Heather Watson banished any such worries.

In doing so the grande dame of the Brit pack made the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career to prove that if you knock enough times the door will eventually open.

Whisper it quietly, but this Wimbledon is in danger of turning out to be a thoroughly upbeat one for the game in this country.

There may be no Andy Murray or Emma Raducanu but the support cast – Liam Broady, Katie Boulter and Cam Norrie – has shown there is more depth than many imagined.

“We’re a little tight-knit group, we’re a lot closer and very supportive of each other,” said Watson.

“I was watching Liam’s match and Katie’s on Centre and Cam... just over the grass-court period in general, so many players have done really well and seeing them do well definitely spurs me on.

“What brought us together was during Covid, we had those battle of the Brits tournaments. Since then everyone has become a lot closer.

“There’s a lot of credit for those events that happened for people’s form and people coming together and supporting each other.”

Watson, 30, holds senior status on the women’s side – at least in age terms – and she made her experience pay against skittish Slovenian Kaja Juvan, nine years her junior.

The 21-year-old, who beat Watson in straight sets at last year’s US Open, had the power but fell apart under Watson’s incessant examination in the second set after losing a tense tiebreak in the first.

Watson has been a near-permanent presence at these championships with a punishing scheduling putting her on court every day so far but the British No.4 showed no sign of fatigue. Quite the opposite.

She started – and finished – the stronger, closing out the match 7-6 6-2 in 102 engrossing minutes.

There was a brief stutter with the finish line in sight but Watson saved four break points to close the deal with a brilliant volley.

“It wouldn’t be me if there wasn’t a bit of drama at the end,” she said.

“I didn’t really panic because I was thinking clearly and well aware that she had raised her level. I really believed that I was going to do it.”

Watson went into these championships with few expectations after a hamstring injury hampered her build-up.

“I’m a real confidence player,” she said. “Going into Wimbledon without those matches under my belt, I didn’t expect it but I took it one match at a time and once you get through that, it gives you a bit of confidence then it just keeps growing from there on.

“I feel like I played very well and I can’t wait for the next one.”

Watson’s section of the draw has opened up after the surprise exits of No.2 seed Anett Kontaveit and No.14 seed Belinda Bencic.

Her best Wimbledon might have some way to run yet.