Now I might let mum watch!
As British No 1 goes through, she’s set to lift ban on parents seeing her play
HEATHER Watson raised her racket in triumph yesterday as she became the third Briton to make it through to the next round of Wimbledon.
The 22-year-old rising star, who has only j ust recovered from glandular fever, won i n straight sets over Croatian Ajla Tomljanovic.
Miss Watson made it to the second round despite suffering from such crippling nerves that she developed insomnia and could not eat beforehand.
The British number one, who went out in the first round last year, won the hearts of the home crowd after a confident win on Court Three at the All England Club.
Beaming and thanking the supporters afterwards, she said: From the beginning when I walked onto the court and they said my name, the crowd was very positive and behind me the whole way.
‘I really enjoyed playing here today. I do like that court a lot.’
Miss Watson’s win is good news for her parents, whom she had banned f r om attending her matches in case their presence is unlucky.
But she has now agreed to put her superstitions aside if she makes it to the second week, saying: ‘We made a deal. If I get to the second week then they’re coming.
‘It’s absolutely possible, but I’m just focused on playing as best I can now. And when the draw does come out I’ll only be looking as far as that match.’
The Guernsey player, who jumped ahead of fellow star Laura Robson in the world rankings last month when she reached the second round of the French Open, said: ‘I was a bit nervous going on to court. I struggle to eat before I go on, and actually my jaw was locking and I couldn’t even bite through my banana.
‘But it was good. Once I got on court, I got moving. I got into it.’
Miss Watson has previously spoken of her insomnia during Grand Slams, and yesterday said Wimbledon has been no exception. She said: ‘I didn’t sleep that great last night. I woke up at 4am. That’s becoming normal.’
Watson, Andy Murray, 27, and Naomi Broady, 24, are now the only Britons left in the competition.
Miss Robson, who made it the fourth round last year, has been forced to miss Wimbledon this year due to a wrist injury.
Meanwhile there was disappoint- ment for Samantha Murray who was thrashed in straight sets by f ormer Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova. But the 26-year-old from Cheshire – a wildcard entry ranked 238th – took heart from the fact she managed to ace the recent French Open win
ner several times.
Ladbrokes revealed it has just taken its biggest ever bet on Andy Murray to hold on to his Wimbledon title. It told how a Scot who lives in London has bet £100,000 on the star to clinch the title a second time, at odds of 7/2.
A Ladbrokes spokesman said: ‘After England’s demise in Brazil patriotic punters are backing British hopes to run riot at SW19 to finally give us something to cheer about.