College Park, MD —Young British hopeful Heather Watson took to the courts at the inaugural Citi Open after a two-week long layoff due to an elbow injury – her first tournament since Wimbledon. The 19-year-old is the third highest ranked British woman and is experiencing a breakout year, reaching the second round of the French Open, which helped her crack into the top 100 for the first time in her career.
This week at the Citi Open championships in Maryland, Watson earned a straight sets victory in the first round over former top 15 player Eleni Danilidou of Greece, but fell in three sets to Canada’s Stephanie Dubois in the second round. Despite an early exit from the tournament, Watson was able to enjoy her time in Maryland with a visit to America’s capital.
Tennis writer Kelyn Soong spoke with Watson shortly after her second round loss about beating the heat, her thoughts on the White House, the British media, glamming it up for photo shoots, and more.
OTB: You’ve been practicing a lot in the heat and humidity to get yourself accustomed to it. Do you think you wore yourself out practicing in these conditions?
Heather Watson: “Yeah, I did a little bit. But my goal wasn’t this week, it’s in the long run for the U.S. Open. I had two weeks off because I was injured with my elbow, so I’ve done absolutely nothing. And I only just came back last week so I’ve been playing every day, basically all day, so I’m just trying to get myself back into shape. It was a bit annoying today [in the second round match], I think I could’ve closed the match out in two [sets], and the fact it went to three didn’t really help me.”
OTB: So it was a fitness issue?
Heather Watson: “Yeah, my fitness — that’s my goal. That’s why I’ve been practicing hard every day to get used to this heat and just to get used to these conditions because I’ve been in England all summer.”
OTB: You’ve made a lot of positive moves this year. You did well at the Grand Slams. Do you see this year as a significant turning point in your career?
Heather Watson: “Definitely. I’ve broken into the top 100 this year and I know I can definitely do better. I haven’t been playing my best tennis and I just need convert what I’m doing on the practice court and bring it to the match court, and just get more wins, and with that will come confidence.”
OTB: You have direct entry into this year’s U.S. Open — a first for you. How excited are you about that?
Heather Watson: “Very excited. I lost last year in a tough battle in the qualies and I’m in the main draw this year so I’m really looking forward to it.”
OTB: The London Olympics are coming up next year. What are your plans and goals for that?
Heather Watson: “The Olympics is one of my main goals in the long run. I’m training to get my ranking up. I’m not really sure how many people from Great Britain get in, but I want to make sure that I can get in by myself and secure that spot.”
OTB: Speaking of Great Britain, there’s a group of young British players on the Tour. How close are you with them?
Heather Watson: “I get along well with all the British players. Andy’s doing amazing – he’s done so well. I hope to one day I can get to as many Grand Slam finals as he has and win some.”
OTB: What is it like being a top British athlete and dealing with the British media?
Heather Watson: “The majority of them are all very nice. There’s just one or two that’s just in for us [laughs]. So, just as long as we keep doing well, they can’t say anything bad. So that’s what I’m going to try to do.”
OTB: Is this your first time in the Washington D.C./Maryland area?
Heather Watson: “Yes! It’s my first time here. The closest I’ve been is New York last year.”
OTB: What do you think? Did you do any sight seeing?
Heather Watson: “Yeah, I went sight seeing the first day. I went to see the White House. It wasn’t how I pictured it – how it was in the movies [laughs].”
OTB: What was different about it?
Heather Watson: “In the movies it was just this whole stretch of green grass but there’s a gate and a road and just whole sorts of stuff.”
OTB: On your Facebook, there are lots of photos from model shoots. Is that something you enjoy doing?
Heather Watson: “Yeah, I love doing stuff like that. It’s one of my favorite parts that comes with tennis – getting all glammed up and looking pretty [laughs].”
OTB: What do you think of the “Strong is Beautiful” campaign by the WTA?
Heather Watson: “I think it’s brilliant and I think all these pictures have turned out amazing.”
OTB: What is your schedule like for the rest of the summer?
Heather Watson: “Next for me I got a week of training. Then I’m off to Toronto and then Cincinnati and then the U.S. Open.”
OTB: Do you have any particular goals for this year?
Heather Watson: “My goal is to just keep climbing the ladder. Right now, it’s to get fit and back in shape for the U.S. Open. I’m looking forward to training next week and getting stronger. I think I’m pretty much used to the heat now [laughs]. I swear I have a sweating problem, I sweat so much [laughs].”
Look out for the fit and ready Watson to make a move during the U.S. hard court season this year.
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Kelyn Soong is a freelance tennis writer and photographer. His work has appeared in Voice of America, USTA/Mid-Atlantic, USTA/Maryland, the Mid-Atlantic Match Point Magazine, SB Nation, and tennisgrandstand.com. To view his work, visit his website at: http://kelynsoong.blogspot.com.
Heather’s so lucky to come from such a nice place – Guernsey in the Channel Islands. She won’t even have to move to Monaco like some other tennis stars like Caroline Wozniacki and Novak Djokovic when she starts making good money from her tennis, as Guernsey’s a tax haven too.