LOOKING UP AGAIN
Watson is fighting her way back to form after going from match points against Serena to paying deposits for tournament tennis balls
HEATHER WATSON has revealed she found new drive in her “lost” year playing in Challenger events with no water or towels – and where she even had to leave a deposit to borrow balls.
The former British No.1 served to beat world No.1 Serena Williams on Centre Court at Wimbledon in 2015.
But despite winning the mixed doubles title and partying with Andy Murray last year, the state of her singles game was shown when she was thrashed in the first round and was hit by a £9,000 fine for damaging the grass court in frustration.
She then punished herself by reading online abuse.
From reaching world No.38 two years ago, the girl from Guernsey has tumbled down to world No.126 and was forced to play secondtier Challenger tournaments in backwaters in Slovakia and France.
But Watson, 25, showed signs of the form which won her three WTA Tour titles and £1.9million by reaching the semi-finals in Eastbourne last week – and she insisted she is ready for a return to the big-time. “I did not have a coach for ages and I felt lost,” said the double Olympian. “I tried a few and it just hadn’t worked out. I felt a bit aimless on the practice court.
“It was very different playing some tournaments, your feet get put back on the ground. One tournament there was no water.
“At these tournaments you are used to just picking up your water bottles from the fridge, and a small thing like that makes such a difference.
“You get treated so well and they make life so easy for us, that just not having water at a tournament was quite difficult, not having a towel, having to leave deposits for tennis balls and giving them back. “It was very different and tough but it motivated me because that’s not what I want to be doing, playing at that level. “I want to get back up and climb the rankings again, because I know I’m a good enough player for it, and I have been there for a long time. “It’s just a little dip, and I’ll be back.” At the start of the clay season, Watson started working with coaches Morgan Phillips and Colin Beecher. “I’ve just felt happier and enjoying it more and I know what I’m doing,” she said. “I already feel back on track, I feel like I have my goals, my aims every practice. I am really happy with my game.
“I was proud to get to the final at Surbiton, and I am pleased with the way things went for me at Eastbourne. I got some good wins under my belt.”
Watson now returns to SW19 to face a winnable opening match against Belgian No.5 Maryna Zanevska, ranked world No.117.
“It is a nice feeling going back as a reigning champion,” she said. “I will also be playing the mixed doubles again with Henri Kontinen (below).
“I look forward to Wimbledon every year and I am just as excited to be back, grateful for the wild card, disappointed that I needed one, but thankful that I have been given the opportunity.”
And this year she plans not to hand back a large chunk of her prize money after getting hit with the second biggest fine in Wimbledon history for her unsportsmanlike conduct.
“I was stunned,” she said. “I didn’t agree with it completely but I made a mistake and damaged the grass. I will be on my best behaviour this year – I’m more careful.”