Watson’s out but not down
Aweek in which wimbledon hopeful Heather watson took the scalps of the world Nos 9, 17 and 23 at eastbourne ended in a loss to Caroline wozniacki in yesterday’s semi-finals.
watson was unable to become the first Brit to get to this tournament’s final since Virginia wade in 1976 as she was beaten 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 in two hours and nine minutes.
world No 6 wozniacki proved a step too far for watson but the 25-year-old will head to southwest London full of confidence on grass.
‘It’s been a good week,’ she said. ‘ I’m feeling ready for wimbledon. I’m feeling great about my game and got some great match wins under my belt this week.
‘I’m feeling confident going into next week.’
earlier in the week watson saw off eastbourne’s defending champion Dominika Cibulkova — overcoming a top- 10 opponent for only the second time in her career. She then beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Barbora Strycova to get to this final.
eastbourne’s Centre Court missed out on seeing Johanna konta yesterday but was full for watson, who at one stage led by a break in the third set against wozniacki.
The British No 3 will face Belgium’s Maryna Zanevska — the world No 117 — in the first round of wimbledon on Monday.
Asked about that, she added: ‘You can’t get away from it, can you? Usually I don’t look but with a Grand Slam you have people messaging you, social media notifications… so yeah, I’ve seen.
‘I’m feeling optimistic and feeling great within myself going into next week.’
After losing the first set 6-2, watson was 5-2 up in the second when wozniacki called for a medical time-out. The momentum was with watson, who sealed the set 6-3.
She even went a break up in the third, though was broken back immediately by wozniacki.
At the two-hour mark, it was 5-5 in the decider, though the Dane then showed her dominance.
She secured two match points. watson saved the first but not the second as she netted a forehand. wozniacki will now play Czech karolina Pliskova in today’s final.