Heather Watson

[davech]

Here it is. (http://twitpic.com/9wmulr)

[Maza1987]

With the win with Laura in the dubs at Eastbourne in 1R, she should become gb's number 1 dubs player.

Plays Greta Arn tomorrow. Seems like a good draw.

[Jan]

Hev is a set up and 2-0* in the 2nd :)

[Jan]

Hev wins 6-3 6-4 :cheer:

[Maza1987]

well done.
was thinking she would come through it.

[Maza1987]

wohooo,
heather's match is on eurosport tomorrow at 11am

[Jan]

and I'll probably miss it :sad:

[Maza1987]

heather has been awarded a wc to stanford premier event later this year
http://www.tennispanorama.com/archives/27498?

[Jan]

Hev lost earlier to Safarova 6-7 1-6

[Maza1987]

The first set was very competitive and she should've won the tb imo.
The second set, her level seems to drop off and the scoreline was compounded by the fact that Safarova really hit her stride.

Still, hoping for a good draw at Wimby now.

[JAMES4578]

Heather certainly had her chances in the first set and pity that breaker got away from her,she seemed to lose momentum after that. Still Heather can take the positives ninto Wimbledon.

[Maza1987]

Benesova in the first round is certainly winnable. She's the same height as Heather and won't be hitting winners everywhere. She has a career 3-10 record at Wimby.
In fact, I'd be disappointed if Heather didn't win this. Hantuchova in the 2nd rnd, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

[Maza1987]

Heather Watson optimistic ahead of first round
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/18561952

[Maza1987]

Playing on centre for first time. 3-1 up

[WimbledonAce]

Going well so far!

[davech]

Heather's currently thrashing Benesova. She won the first set 6-2 and is already 3-1 up in the second.

[david1610]

She has won!!!! 6-2 6-1

[davech]

Brilliant stuff!

[JAMES4578]

It really was a great performance and she was gutsy coming through that long game!

[Alis]

What a fantastic debut on Centre Court - take a bow Ms Watson!!!!

[supergran]

Brilliant performance. Such a lovely young lady.... Well done!:cheer::cheer::cheer:

[Jan]

Fantastic Hev - be proud! :yahoo:

[Maza1987]

So happy for Heather, especially after the injury last year. After the first 4 games of the match, I pretty much knew Heather had too much all round game on this surface for Benesova.

Would have been nice for Heather to play Hantuchova as I feel she was there for the taking (as Hampton proved) and would likely have been on a bigger court. Nonetheless, cannot complain with drawing Hampton whom Heather has beaten already in the past.

[karanga]

So happy for Heather - well done. :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: I too feel it is a shame that she is not playing Daniela.

[david1610]

I personally would rather she had a chance to get to the third round of Wimbledon. It puts a marker down for the rest of her career. She can beat the likes of Hatuchova in years to come based on the confidence that comes from going deeper than a single win at a slam (main draw).
I am not looking at Heather as a plucky Brit who sometimes wins a R1 match. I am hoping she regularly gets to R3 and even into week 2 - too early to say yet. This is a really good chance to get that first R2 GS victory.

Hampton has played R1 AO and USO 2010 and 2011. She won through to round 2 in AO this year - so one win out of 4 GS R1 matches.
Heather 2010 1 2011 1 out of 3 2012 2 out of 3 so three wins out of 7 GS R1 matches.

Hampton has a better record for this year but basically they are very similar with Hampton two years older and one more year of WTA main tour experience.

Very winnable and I hope she gets a show court with a large partisan crowd!!!
PS By comparison Balatacha 2 R3 out of 22 GS Keothavong 1 R3 of of 21 GS

[cazza99]

Wimbledon (http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/articles/2012-06-25/201206251340657737481.html)- Watson smiles her way to Centre Court win

[Maza1987]

Finally, they published her post-match interview transcript.
http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/interviews/2012-06-25/201206261340705075040.html

Also, a good article on the Beeb.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/18592675

[cazza99]

live interview with Heather on Wimbledon live now

[Maza1987]

11.30am court 2 tomorrow.

[cazza99]

BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/18592675)- Wimbledon 2012: BBC pundits on Heather Watson

[cazza99]

BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/18603752) - Wimbledon 2012: Heather Watson wants further success

[Linda]

I saw Heather today walking through the practice courts. Everyone around (including me) was saying, 'Good luck, Heather!' and she was smiling away and saying 'Thank you, thank you' to everyone. She seems so sweet :)

[Alis]

I notice that she said thankyou to the crowd for their support - she also, unlike many of the other players, thanked the ball kids when they handed her her towel - so nice to see.

[Maza1987]

just walked out on court.
good luck

[Maza1987]

3-0*
great start
now on bbc1 hd

[Maza1987]

heather looking assured as she takes a 5-0 lead.
hamton looks rattled.

[Maza1987]

more of this please.
6-1
although hampton showed signs of life towards the end, so expect a much tighter 2nd set

[cazza99]

Come on Hev.

[Sallydaisy]

Uh oh! Hampton finding her range a bit now and she's just broken back so it's on serve at 2-2.

[cazza99]

Well done Hev. Broken back

[Maza1987]

a bit up and down in the second.
3*-2

[Maza1987]

yess,
finally a hold. 5-3*

[Sallydaisy]

Nasty fall for Hampton; landed down on her knee.
Gave Watson her first matchpoint but Hampton saves it.

Deuce
Ad Hampton
She holds - and Heather will have to serve out for a place in R3 for the first time.
6'1, 5'4

[Maza1987]

a mp missed but it's time to serve it out
5*-4

[Sallydaisy]

:yahoo::yahoo::yahoo::yahoo::yahoo:

Well played Heather Watson!!!
First British lady into R3 since .....

http://www.thetenerifeforum.com/images/smilies/newsmilies/smiley_UKFlag.gif

[cazza99]

Yay. Heather has won and into the third round :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

[JAMES4578]

Fab Heather is in round 3!

[Maza1987]

Wohoo.
First Brit woman into round 3 for 10 years.

[cazza99]

Steven ‏@GBtennis

That win will take @HeatherWatson92 up to a new career high around WR 80 & just 12 pts behind @annekeothavong (still to play R2, obviously)

Hev being interviewed on the BBC now.

[Alis]

Fantastic win for Heather - what a lovely young lady she is! Great to see Judy there supporting her - as she has done with all our girls.

[pabbers]

Great stuff - just saw the stats and they looked good.

[Maza1987]

And a new career high ranking--and this time she won't be going back out for, hopefully, a long time.

[cazza99]

Tennis Space (http://www.thetennisspace.com/on-court/heather-watson-the-words-which-inspire-me/) - Heather Watson: the words which inspire me

[Jan]

brilliant - well done Heather! :yahoo:

[cazza99]

Wimbledon ‏@Wimbledon

Heather Watson is coming up on @LiveatWimbledon at 2.55pm today. http://bit.ly/LkpbTu

[RoastLamb]

I got to see some of this on telly coz she was playing an American. So nice! Great result for her. :clap:

[supergran]

Really enjoyed watching this match. Second set was more competitive but thrilled that Heather won and is in the 3rd round. She looked absolutely delighted.:cheer::cheer:

[cazza99]

BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/18611373)- Wimbledon 2012: Britain's Heather Watson into third round

[WimbledonAce]

Well done heather! Surely centre again friday!

[davech]

Heather was brilliant today. She really is playing well at the moment - the extra aggression during points is really paying off.

[Maza1987]

Partnered with Hutchins in the mixed. Possibly the best male dubs player we have? Good choice, Heather. hehe

[david1610]

As I said yesterday, really important for Heather to have a winnable R2 match as this will give her a lot of confidence/ranking points and she might just push on and get a ranking where she qualifies for tournaments automatically, more often.


Interesting that the mixed doubles combinations at the Olympics have to be done from those who qualify from the other events - I think you take the best ranking of each player (i.e. either singles or doubles ranking) and then get the average. Best 12 then some wild cards. Would love to see Andy with either Heather or Laura unless he thinks it would be too much tennis....

PS The mixed... Heather gets to play Hantchova after all!

[Maza1987]

http://vimeo.com/40076619
A video of Heather when she was leaving for U.S aged 12.

[david1610]

http://vimeo.com/40076619
A video of Heather when she was leaving for U.S aged 12.
Fantastic that those images have been recorded. So sweet! Thank you so much for posting them!

[Alis]

She's changed so little in eight years - what a nice girl she is!

[Maza1987]

Heather 2nd on court Centre after Djokovic and before Federer.
Hmmm, seems like good company to be in.

3.30pm aprox.

[david1610]

I think she is sandwiched between the no. 1 and (new) no. 2 ranked players!

Enjoy yourself Heather. Learn and fight!

[Maza1987]

Heather about to take to court. The roof is closed, I'm not sure if this helps her or not. However, of the two, you would say it's Heather who struggles to get that extra penetration through the court. So if, as the pundits have been saying, it plays faster with the roof, perhaps it might help Heather after all.

But I remember when Andy played under the roof a couple of years ago, he actually said the court become slower and it became harder to hit through the ball. So I don't really know what affect the roof being closed has.

[DaveArneRiise]

Heather about to take to court. The roof is closed, I'm not sure if this helps her or not. However, of the two, you would say it's Heather who struggles to get that extra penetration through the court. So if, as the pundits have been saying, it plays faster with the roof, perhaps it might help Heather after all.

But I remember when Andy played under the roof a couple of years ago, he actually said the court become slower and it became harder to hit through the ball. So I don't really know what affect the roof being closed has.

It most definitely plays faster, just look at last night with Rosol and Nadal.

Cmon Hev!

[Maza1987]

It most definitely plays faster, just look at last night with Rosol and Nadal.

Cmon Hev!

True, but unfortunately our Hev wasn't able to hit like Rosol. Hehe.

On a serious note, Heather needed to play her best just to simply compete and, alas, was nowhere near it. Too many unforced errors which is the last thing you need against Radwanska. I don't know if it was because she was nervous or whether it was because Radwanska was on the other side of the net that she felt she needed to go for the lines more. Either way, the reality is that Aga plays similar to Heather but executes to a much higher level.

Nonetheless, still an encouraging tournament overall. Very little in terms of points to defend for the rest of the year and she could/should end top 70 imo.

On to Stanford which, by the way, seems a bit strange as the Olympics are going to be back here soon on grass. Flying across the Atlantic to play on hard, then coming back for grass, then back across the Atlantic for more hard. Hopefully it doesn't take its toll. :)

[JAMES4578]

Unfortunately Heather never recovered from the poor start, though it was always going to be a tough ask of course. She pushed Radwanska close in the first game but struggled with her serve throughout the first set and erred too often. At least she got something going in the 2nd and will hopefully learn from the experience. Whilst we have liked her to have more of an impression obviously she had a few good wins here.

[Linda]

I think Heather did brilliantly to get to the third round. Onwards and upwards!

[Alis]

So glad Hev won her mixed doubles with Ross - should be some consolation.

[Jan]

well Hev did the best of all the girls, so she should be proud - and come back stronger next year!
Yes - glad they got the win in the mixed!

[Helen40]

Shame she's not going to play singles in the Olympics.

[david1610]

Shame she's not going to play singles in the Olympics.
Don't tempt me.... some peaked moderately, some are still on the way up... so...... ooops!!

[Maza1987]

Yay, Heather's first critical newspaper article.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-2166766/Wimbledon-2012-Unlucky-Heather-Watson---simply-it.html

A right of passage I would say.lol.

[DaveArneRiise]

Yay, Heather's first critical newspaper article.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-2166766/Wimbledon-2012-Unlucky-Heather-Watson---simply-it.html

A right of passage I would say.lol.

Unlucky Heather... or simply not up to it? Watson's failings are exposed by world No 3
By MARTIN SAMUEL

Stopped reading there.

[Helen40]

Unlucky Heather... or simply not up to it? Watson's failings are exposed by world No 3
By MARTIN SAMUEL

Stopped reading there.

It was interesting, and a fair assesment of where we are today not only in British tennis but sport in general with our attitudes and expectations.
Basically, expect more, don't celebrate your third round win as if you'd won the tourney, go win the tourney!

[david1610]

It was interesting, and a fair assesment of where we are today not only in British tennis but sport in general with our attitudes and expectations.
Basically, expect more, don't celebrate your third round win as if you'd won the tourney, go win the tourney!
I get the article and it has a truth in it, which is unfortunately put to the service of the ego of the columnist and panders to the prejudices of its readers.
It is unfair as Heather is a work in progress. It mentioned that both players had won a Junior slam, but did not mention the time it can take to consolidate a WTA ranking. I have no doubt that Heather will be a top fifty player. More than that, time will tell. Time. Not the columnist.

But I cannot resist saying that somebody last night seemed to celebrate a third round victory as if they had won the tournament!

[Maza1987]

Meh--obviously there is a semblance of truth in what he writes, however, it was the fact that he portrayed an image that she is being hyped up as being a world beater.
I also don't think he is a very big tennis fan and is only writing about this topic because it's current. Or perhaps he is, I don't know.

What I'm trying to write is, he was attempting to create a sense that she will rest on her laurels and party over a third round where as, if he knew Heather as a tennis player, he would know this will never be the case with her.


He also stated that there was only 3 years between her and Radwanska, thus in 3 years she must be 3 in the world. However, nobody is expecting her to become the next Radwanska (but we can hope).

[Maza1987]

Up to a new career high of 79 and gb no. 2. Also becomes gb no. 1 in dubs at 107.

Has a tough first rnd against her friend Sloane Stephens in Stanford. Although she won their previous two meetings, since then Sloane has gone to a new level and is top 50.

[cazza99]

Well done Hev for getting to 79 in the world rankings :clap:

[david1610]

Up to a new career high of 79 and gb no. 2. Also becomes gb no. 1 in dubs at 107.

Has a tough first round against her friend Sloane Stephens in Stanford. Although she won their previous two meetings, since then Sloane has gone to a new level and is top 50.
I saw her beat Sloane in Estoril this year There was the feeling that Sloane had the better shots but Heather had the match play to keep her under control.
Will be interesting to see if she can still do that or if Sloane will hit her off court.

[Sallydaisy]

Sloane serving at *4-3 with a break in the first set.

Heather has just broken back, 4-4.

And a love hold for 5-4. Well done Heather.

I'm off for some sleep.

EDIT: SS has just broken HW and is serving for the first set at 6'5.
Hev threw in a couple of DF's in that game ..... costly.

[-J-]

hev won in the end 76 46 61

[Sallydaisy]

Oh, that's brilliant news!

I didn't intend to stay up but had slept for 4hrs yesterday afternoon so couldn't kip last night - not normally up at 3am!!! Just couldn't last the distance and see the match through....

[Helen40]

Well done Hev, great news to get up to :-)

[Maza1987]

Very nice. She seems to have a hodoo over her friend. 60 more points.:)

[Helen40]

but 50 to defend before the end of the Olympics, and no chance to earn any there :-(

[Jan]

well done Hev!

[JAMES4578]

A gutsy win, well done Heather!

[david1610]

That is impressive. Well done Heather!
Incidentally, in the 2012 race rankings, Heather is 64, Anne 96, Elena 129 and Laura 150.
In the singles ranking Anne is 75 with 836 points and Heather 79 with 824 points.

I do not know what points are coming off this week but Heather has got 60 points already this week and Anne plays tonight. At the time of writing, even if just for a few hours, is Heather the current GB No. 1? Or will she be if she goes one round better than Anne this week?

[Helen40]

Hev's dubs is up on livescore now.

[david1610]

Got there first! :) C'mon Heather!

[david1610]

4-3 with break to Heather's team.
Edit: they won the first set 6-3 and had a break in the second but it is now 3-3 Games seem to be taking longer so seems to be getting a tighter affair.
Edit and one set all..: CTB
Was 5-1 to Heather's team then Heather DF and two more points to opponents.... 5-4
Erakovic's serves yield two more points.... 7-4 Feel they need another MB.....
7-5
8-5 great extra MB!
9-5 Heather's second service point...
Done... 10-5!

Sounds like they were coasting and then the opponents had a good second half of second set.... with two breaks.
Doubles nowadays really is a bit of a lottery... you can play really well for a set and a half but if you ease off you can lose a set and if not careful the opponents carry the momentum into the sudden death, so well done Heather and Erakovic.

And good experience if you happen to be playing doubles in the Olympics!

Playing No. 2 seeds Kops-Jones and Spears in the QF (Ranked 19 and 20 in doubles rankings, both from California and only Raymond and Huber higher ranked American pair - though, yes, there are the Williams!). Tough? Of course not!

But already got 120 points from that win! Should take Heather into top 100 for doubles as well.
While she and Laura are likely to be the doubles pairing for Fed Cup, this is a very useful methinks!

[Helen40]

Heather & Erakovic win 6-3 3-6 [10-5]

[Maza1987]

Coupled with Anne's loss, now gb no.1 in signles as well as dubs. And I cannot see anyone not named Laura overtaking within the next 10 years.

[Helen40]

Coupled with Anne's loss, now gb no.1 in signles as well as dubs. And I cannot see anyone not named Laura overtaking within the next 10 years.

One doubt in my head about this. How good is Konta?

[david1610]

One doubt in my head about this. How good is Konta?
Well when Anne and Bally retire, I certainly hope she is good enough to play doubles, or be a reserve, as we will need a third good player, not to mention a doubles specialist if possible!

The last couple of weeks make me wish in many ways that the Olympics were in one year's time as far as Laura and Heather are concerned. Yes, doubles. But.....

[Jan]

Hev's match against Wickmayer will be streamed :)

http://streamingtennis.com/index.php/stanford1/stanford-live

Currently showing the match before Hev's , which is about half way through 2nd set (thanks to Steven on bt.net)

[Maza1987]

Ooh, a nice treat for tonight.

[Maza1987]

4 breaks in a row to start.
Oh boy. This could be a long one.

[Jan]

first set to Hev 7-5 :clap:

[Maza1987]

Traded early blows at the start with Heather 4-2 down. But then Heather really got going and broke then held. A few holds followed but Heather broke at a crucial stage (5-5*) and served out 7-5.

Some really good shot making and scrambling from Heather. The hardcourts really bring out the best in her movement.

P.S. There was a moment when Heather successfully challenged a point and the umpire wrongly ordered to replay the point when wickmayer never touched the ball with her racket. Would liked to have seen Heather fight her corner more here--and let the umpire know of their error.

First set 7-5.

[JAMES4578]

Keep it going Heather!

[Maza1987]

The less wrote about the second set the better.
1-6

On to the final one we go.

[Jan]

let's hope Hev can pick things up in the 3rd

[david1610]

C'mon Heather!

[Sallydaisy]

2-1 up and on serve in the 3rd - keep it going Hev!
:swingin:

[JAMES4578]

Pity about the 2nd but hopefully Heather back on track!

[david1610]

2-2 the third..... c'mon Heather!

[Jan]

Hev holds 3-2*

[Maza1987]

Two inspired shots help heather rescue from 15-30 down to hold
3-2*

[Maza1987]

big point at 30-30 which heather loses helps wicky break.

3-4*
gotta break back now

[JAMES4578]

Unfortunately Heather down 5-3, come on!

[Maza1987]

heather saves 3 mps with 3 amazing rallies. gutsy and risky stuff.
4-5*
wickmayer serving for match though

[Jan]

well held Hev - I think she saved 3 mp's in that game

[Sallydaisy]

She's really battling; deuce on the Wickmayer serve.

[Maza1987]

bp not taken, but it was a great serve by wicky.
a very high qual 3rd set with not much separating them

4-6

[Jan]

Hev loses the 3rd set 4-6
shame - close match if you discount the 2nd set!

[JAMES4578]

Yes a pity,but still a tough match up of course.

[david1610]

bp not taken, but it was a great serve by wicky.
a very high qual 3rd set with not much separating them

4-6
That is what is so encouraging... great if she had won but.... she is gradually mixing it with the top 100, the top 75, 50....
Improvement. Some of her shots there were great!
And she has match play!
Well done.
especially looking at who has come on court. Enjoy the company and learn Heather!

[Sallydaisy]

Heather is back out on court for her Doubles match; partnering Erakovic against Kops-Jones/Spears (who reached the Qtr Final of Wimbledon losing to the Williams sisters).

Watovic up a break and held serve for 4-2 in the first set.

KSS hold for 4-3.
And break Watovic (DF from Hev on break point) to get back on serve at 4-4.

With that goodnight from me.
:sleepy:

[Helen40]

7-6, 0-3

Goodnight!

[davech]

Watovic won 7-6 2-6 10-4!

[Sallydaisy]

Watovic won 7-6 2-6 10-4!
Oh, well done Heather and Marina!
:clap:

I'm glad they won; gives Heather more time at an event like this and some consolation for going out in the singles to Wickmayer.

[Jan]

good doubles win! :cheer:

[Sallydaisy]

Steven has worked out that on Monday Heather will break into the top 100 in doubles.
She'll also become the #1 British woman in both singles AND doubles!!!
And she's just 20 ...
:clap:

There's a Heather Watson website here (http://www.heatherwatson.co.uk/) but it doesn't appear to be kept up to date 'cos it still shows her senior ranking as #406.
;)

Otherwise keep track of Heather on Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heather_Watson), the WTA website (http://www.wtatennis.com/player/heather-watson_2257889_16047) and her Facebook page.
(http://www.facebook.com/heatherwatsontennis)
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/541458_10150935009843931_362718415_n.jpg
That's ^^^ a great photo from her Facebook page.

[Jan]

that's quite an achievement - good for Heather!

[david1610]

That is another really, really good victory. That was a real doubles pair last night. As things have turned out, playing doubles in the Fed Cup and being selected for it in the Olympics might have caused Heather to focus more on doubles than perhaps she would have otherwise, and it is turning out to have a lot of benefits in terms of the experience she is getting from it and of course there is a resulting knock on effect in singles.
I have not had much experience of following the WTA but whether you are ranked 150 or 100, or 100 or 50 does seem quite volatile and a lot depends on getting a lot of tough match experience and learning to deal with that and then going beyond it, so you get automatically into tourneys and then the next step is to win enough first and second round matches so you keep that ranking and then push on from there. I get the feeling that Bally and Anne never really got to that latter stage. Not sure if it is a good analogy but it is like going into the sea. Near the edge you are battered by the waves (well I am living on the edge of the Atlantic) but once you are in, if you can swim and handle not having a footing, it gets calmer.
All good experience! She has always seemed to have the battling quality and now she seems to be learning to have the shots to mix it in singles and in doubles against quality opposition!
Let's face it, if the player who comes on after you on court is the Wimbledon champion and you beat a doubles pair with some serious GS pedigree, the learning curve is much steeper!
Go girl!

[david1610]

Don't think this has been posted here, unless Cazza put it on the main Newspaper thread:
http://www.wtatennis.com/page/OffCourtNews/Read/0,,12781~2847576,00.html wta site article on Heather's career so far and her reaction to Andy's loss.

[david1610]

Heather's doubles SF is schedule after the evening singles match with Serena Williams. As that starts at 7:00 p.m. local time, she won't be on court before UK time 6:00, 6:30 at least!
Early risers please note!

[DaveArneRiise]

Good luck Hev

[david1610]

Just being in a player's area at the start of the weekend with people like Serena Williams around is good experience in itself! Good luck later Heather!

[Sallydaisy]

Heather Watson & Marina Erakovic d Grandin/Uhlirova 7'5, 6'7(6), 10'7
Into the Doubles Final today against #1 seeds Jarmila Gajdosova & Vania King
:yahoo:


OOP Sunday, July 15, 2012

Stadium (from 13.00hrs, 21.00hrs UK)
Singles Final: Serena Williams (http://www.wtatennis.com/player/serena-williams_2257889_9044) vs. Coco Vandeweghe (http://www.wtatennis.com/player/coco-vandeweghe_2257889_13656)
Doubles Final: Gajdosova/King vs. Erakovic/Watson
(so about 10.30 UK time depending on how quickly Serena beats Coco!!!)

[david1610]

Wow! That was against the number 3 seeds. So "just" the number 1 seeds left!
Enjoy the final Heather!

[Sallydaisy]

This match is going all over the place ..........

Hevina were broken 3rd game to go 1-2, on serve to 2-3 then they broke back for 3-3.
They were just broken at 4-4 for the others to be serving to take the set at *5-4 but Hevina broke back again!
They've just held for 6-5, Jarvan to serve to stay in the set or go to a tie-break.
:thumbup:

[Sallydaisy]

Ooooh, broken for 0-2, *1-2, 2-2 with the break and serving in the 2nd set.

[Helen40]

3-2 second set :-)

[Sallydaisy]

Chance missed there, they had t'others at *2-3, 30-40 but it's 3 all now.

[Sallydaisy]

Argh, they got broken when serving for the match. DF from Erakovic at the wrong moment.
T'others serving at 4-5, Hevina made it to 40-15* but have been pegged back to deuce and now t'others have held for 5-5.

They're getting so close and then being foiled at the last!
Need a good service hold here.

[super8]

Marina served for the match at 5-4, but got broken.

Watkovic had 2 match points on Jarmila's serve in the next game, but were saved.

5-5 in second set.

[Sallydaisy]

Hevina have held again, 6-5 up in the 2nd set.

[super8]

Tie Break (or as Neil Harman likes to tweet at every opportunity, jeu decisif)

[super8]

Fabulous rally at 3-3 in tie break..

[Sallydaisy]

Gutsy play from Hevina as they come back from 4-6 to 6-6 in the tiebreak.

[Sallydaisy]

:phew:

Another MP on their own 2 serves!
C'mon!!!

[Helen40]

Woohoo 7-5, 7-6. What does that do for her ranking?

[super8]

GSM Watkovic, 7-5, 7-6!!

[Sallydaisy]

:yahoo::yahoo::yahoo:
They did it !!!

Unseeded @HeatherWatson92 (https://twitter.com/HeatherWatson92) & Marina Erakovic NZL beat top seeds Gajdošová/King 75 76(7).

Heathers 1st WTA doubles title!

[super8]

Woohoo 7-5, 7-6. What does that do for her ranking?

Do you mean her doubles ranking? I don't know.

Short term, it's a very nice confidence booster, pre-Olympics, as she will be playing doubles there with Laura Robson.

[super8]

Apparently, Heather is the 1st British player to win a WTA doubles tour title since Claire Wood & Belinda Borneo won the Wellington Classic in 1992 - 100 days before Heather was born..

[david1610]

What it means is our Hev is a winner! Now Steven, when was the last time a women's doubles team beat the no. 1, 2 and 3 seeds to win a title!
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. Winning is winning. What has happened to British doubles in the last week? :)!

[Maza1987]

Been busy last few days and there was such a long gap between her quarters and her semi that I lost track.

Superp stuff from her and partner.
Biggest dubs title in my living memory for a Brit girl.

[JAMES4578]

Fabulous, a great moment for Heather, well done! Of course a good partner in Erakovic.

[hfwardhouse]

That's the news I wanted to wake up to!!

:trophy:

[Helen40]

Not a bad Beeb report on Heather winning the dubs and British women's rankings. Goes on to say what she and Anne are doing this week, but not Laura :(

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/18852503

[DaveArneRiise]

Fabulous from Heather! Shows how talented she is and how much versatility to her game that she is doing well in doubles. Bodes well for the future!

[Jan]

brilliant Hev!!!!!!! :cheer::cheer:

[super8]

Woohoo 7-5, 7-6. What does that do for her ranking?

Heather is now ranked 81 in doubles and 71 in singles. I think that this makes get the top-ranked British WTA player in both respects.

4 Brits in WTA top 100 - most since 1991.

[Jan]

exciting times!

[Maza1987]

Report on BBC with quotes.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/18852503

Shame she has another dubs partner this week.

Edit- I see Helen beat me to it by a few hours. :(

[Maza1987]

Speaking of this week--she has been drawn against Danilidou in the 1st rnd.
Possible re-match with Wickmayer in 2nd rd.

[Helen40]

Both Hev and Anne play around 20/21.00 tonight. Anne first.

[Maza1987]

hope there is a stream.

[Maza1987]

match v danilidou has started but cant find a stream anywhere.
regardless, a good start
2-0*

[Hawkeye]

First set to Heather 6-3.

[Maza1987]

poor first serve % of 45 which would usually spell trouble for heather, but she got the 1st set in the bag.

[Sallydaisy]

Heather now 1 game away from R2 in Carlsbad CA - leads 6'3, 5'2*.
If Danilidou holds Heather will serve for the match.

[Sallydaisy]

:clap:

Hold she does - well done Heather!!! 6'3, 6'3

[david1610]

Good! Somehow I got to see a few of these girls at Estoril and Danilidou was the one who did not seem to be able to breathe without checking it out first with her coach!
Good win Heather!

[Maza1987]

hopefully she gets a rematch with wickmayer next.

[david1610]

Heather currently playing doubles. Won first set 6-4 but 1-4 down in second set, oops, make that 2-4.
Watson/Husarova v. Grandin Uhlirova Seeded 4 (ranked 23 and 24 in doubles, respectively!) Husarova ranked 58 and 38 years old, Heather ranked 81.
Break to go 3-4! And now 4-4.
Guess I picked a good time to follow. Aaargh will have to stay up now :)
4-5 Make that 5-5 31-26 points so far to Heather's team this set... first set 32-25
0-40 to Heather and partner!!! Second serve.... they break!
6-5 They will be serving for the match!
7-5 They Win! Six of the last seven games.
Heather is not just winning doubles matches, but beating some of the top pairings along the way!

[Sallydaisy]

hopefully she gets a rematch with wickmayer next.
Not Wickmayer; the Belgian retired after losing the first set to Chan 6'7(6)

[Jan]

ooh 2 nice wins for Hev! great stuff:cheer:

[Sallydaisy]

Hmmm, Hev off to a slow start against WR#161 Chan.
Down 2-5* with Chan serving for the first set.

Well, Hev just broke the lass from Taipei, serving now at *3-5

But Yung Chan broke Heather so took the first set 6'3 and is serving first in the 2nd.

Come on Heva!!!
:swingin:

[Jan]

come on Hev!!

[Maza1987]

Needs to pick it up in the second.
comon

[Sallydaisy]

Have to hope that she can hold serve and get into the game of Chan.

[Jan]

I presume noone's got a stream for this?

[Sallydaisy]

I've been doing other things today so only just really come onto computer proper; going to look on Bet365.

[Jan]

oooh Hev has just broken *3-2 :clap:

but is broken straight back

[Sallydaisy]

Nothing doing on streams ..... Heather a break up in the 2nd and serving at *3-2.

[Sallydaisy]

Broken back ........ 3-3
:sad:

[Jan]

Nothing doing on streams ..... Heather a break up in the 2nd and serving at *3-2.

thanks - I couldn't find anything, but wondered if I'd missed something

[Jan]

all of a sudden Hev is serving to stay in the match *4-5

[Sallydaisy]

:phew:

She held for 5-5 but this is very close.

[Jan]

:phew: she holds!

[Jan]

snap!

[Jan]

and now breaks! *6-5
Now please hold Hev!

[Sallydaisy]

Hev breaks Chan again for *6'5 - but will she hold her serve and take the 2nd set?

[Jan]

hmm tb time

[Linda]

:sofa:

[Sallydaisy]

Tricky this:
Chan *1-0
1-1*
2-1*
*3-1
*3-2 Breaks of serve again! Com'on Hev!
4-2* Uh Oh!

[Sallydaisy]

Oh Hev - another serve dropped, now Chan will have 2 for the match.

5-2*
*6-2
*7-2

GSM Chan 6'4, 7'6

Never mind Hev - back to blighty and onto the Olympics grass!
:grass2:

[Linda]

:sad:

[Jan]

tough day at the office for Hev :sad:

[JAMES4578]

Disappointing for Heather,hopefully she'll get something going at the Olympics.

[Maza1987]

Still in the dubs at least.

[david1610]

Playing tonight
Not Before 7:00 PM
[3] J Jankovic (SRB) vs M Czink (HUN)
K Chang (TPE) / N Lertcheewakarn (THA) vs J Husarova (SVK) / H Watson (GBR)
So if California, perhaps we (well those in Europe) wake up to the result?

[david1610]

They lost 6-4 2-6 10-8 :(

[Helen40]

Yeah, good report of match on BT. Gutting.

[Sallydaisy]

At least Heather has time to zoot back to the UK to sort out her body clock, get some grass court practice, maybe have a day or so 'rest' and be ready for the Olympics which gets underway in 8 days time.

[Sallydaisy]

Congratulations to Heather on reaching a career ranking of #67 today!!!
:clap::clap::clap:

[Sallydaisy]

Now the draws have been made there are 'opened' threads set up for the Olympics Tennis events. A number of posts from the initial tennis chat thread and Heathers own thread have been moved over so that Olympics discussion is kept to a few places in the forum and easier to follow for all.

[Sallydaisy]

Hev is in the States preparing for the US Open.

Heather Watson ‏@HeatherWatson92 (https://twitter.com/HeatherWatson92) really wanted to go! But I'm already back in America training “@Tweena78 (https://twitter.com/Tweena78): @HeatherWatson92 (https://twitter.com/HeatherWatson92) do you get to go to the closing ceremony?”

[Maza1987]

will play wickmayer tonight in 1st round of texas.

[david1610]

Pity she has drawn Li Na in first round but hopefully can make it a positive experience!

[Maza1987]

Having another great run with maria erakovic in texas dubs. Into the finals.

They should play all the slams together next year.

[Jan]

yes - they're doing really well!

[david1610]

Are they going to team up at the USO?

[david1610]

Heather and Maria break in the first game of the final! There is a stream at bet365
Maria holds serve to 30.... 2-0
And break again - Dekmeihere seems to have a lot of power but not able to control it 3-0
Heather to serve.... 15-40 so 3 BPs with the No Ad rule. C'mon Heather and Maria! Broken. Some UEs and a DF from Heather unfortunately. 1-3
2-3 reasonably solid hold.
They apparently had 40-15 but the chair overruled. Then a double by Maria to 30-30 and then a good shot to get "two" BPs. Good serve for deuce and "sudden death". Wild return by Falconi and it is 4-2. Phew. Thought they were going to blow their lead. More pressure on them though and the other pair are still in the set. They hold to 4-3.
Mm... in doubles of course you often have to hit cross court to avoid the opponent at the net. Heather tending to hit a UE on the fourth, fifth time...
Heather to serve. Trade points. Then good serve by Heather, net by Maria. And again. 40-15. Wild UE... 5-3
They get to 0-40. Long smash by Maria 15-40. Into the net by Maria 30-40. DF and that is the first set 6-3 :)

[david1610]

Second set. Maria holds to love with one great volley at the net by Maria... 1-0
Break to 15. Some very good net play by Maria. 2-0
Heather holds. Some good positive play. She looks very authoritative at times - doubles is good for her! 3-0
DF to go to 4-0.
And a straightforward hold to go 5-0.
Inducing errors.... 0-40 4 championship points... DF and that is it!
Nice cuddle between Maria and Heather! :)
6-3 6-0
Title no. 2!!!!

[Maza1987]

great stuff.
:)

[Jan]

brilliant!
:dance:

[david1610]

Forgot to say that that second set was 24 points against 6 i.e. an average of one point per game. It really was one way traffic. Heather has so much more power than she had a couple of year ago and the pairing looked a "real" doubles pair!

[rouges]

Congrats Heather for the Dallas Double

[Sallydaisy]

Cazza - have been posting on the Ladies USO thread ... perhaps we need to stick to one place?

[cazza99]

Cazza - have been posting on the Ladies USO thread ... perhaps we need to stick to one place?

Good idea.

[david1610]

Mmmm.....IMHO Heather's thread is exactly that.... Heather's "story". Not sure I agree with these separate threads...... sometimes we want to look back and see the progression during the year and.....

[JAMES4578]

Was always going to be tough with Li Na and whilst Heather broke for 3-1 in the 2nd unfortunately couldn't make much impact thereafter. Still hopefully another good experience.

[david1610]

Hugs for Heather.

Yes, she will be delighted her friend Laura is having this week, but she might get down if Laura rockets up to the top fifty, forty, thirty..... and Heather gradually goes up a few places her, back down a couple, up three, etc. I see Heather doing it on match play experience and tightening up things, tweaking things. She does not have that natural raw power and whilst Laura is healthy competition up to a point, she must realise that she is also capable of getting quite high but will need to take her time. And one of them losing to and the other beating the same opponent.

Use it as a spur to your own development, Heather!
:grouphug:

[hfwardhouse]

What happened in Hev's dubs match. Saw they had retired!

[david1610]

http://www.channelonline.tv/channelonline_sportnews/displayarticle.asp?id=501182

"Heather Watson's US Open campaign is over after her doubles partner Marina Erakovic was forced to retire with injury in their first round match. "

[Alis]

That's a real pity for Heather. I was hoping she and Marina would make a good run in the doubles.

[Maza1987]

heather back in action at quebec 220$.
plays 3 seed mona barthel 1st rd.

mona has not been playing as 'hot' as earlier in the year, but still a tough draw

[Helen40]

I can't see Marina on the entry list, I wonder whether she's still injured. Her and Hev seem to be quite serious dubs partners right now.

[Sallydaisy]

Heather has reached a career high of #72 in the rankings today and #61 in the doubles!
:clap:

[Maza1987]

Won the first set against barthel

[Jan]

but lost in 3, I gather

[Sallydaisy]

Heather and doubles partner, Alicia Rosolska, are into the SF of WTA ($220K) - Québec City
[1] WATSON, Heather(GBR)/ROSOLSKA, Alicja(POL) vs. COIN, Julie(FRA)/PELLETIER, Marie-Eve(CAN)

Shame she lost in the singles; it means Laura will overtake her as GB#1 on Monday 17th.
L32: Heather Watson WR 70 lost to (3) Mona Barthel (GER) WR 35 7-6(5) 6-7(5) 1-6

However, playing the doubles is good for developing her game and keeps up the court practice so I'm sure Hev will bounce back. No doubt she'll be after her #1 ranking back - might explain her frustration at losing in the R32 and some uncharacteristic racquet smashing.

[Maza1987]

into the final of another dubs.
going for third title of the year.

[Aya]

She's doing amazing in doubles!

[david1610]

Good to hear another final. All good experience especially being around the last weekend. Heather was one of the 20 singled out in a Bleacher Report on rising stars on the ATP and WTA. She is likely to rise up the rankings less dramatically than Laura, but still having lots of positive learning experiences! Good luck in the final Heather!

[Maza1987]

lost in the final.
still gonna be a new dubs career high.

[Sallydaisy]

TOKYO - WTA PREMIER 5, $2.16m.

Sat 22nd Sept, QR2: Heather Watson, WR75 v Andrea Hlavackova, WR62

In QR1 today Heather beat Lara ARRUABARRENA-VECINO (ESP, WR89) and Hlavackova beat Sema.

[david1610]

TOKYO - WTA PREMIER 5, $2.16m.

Sat 22nd Sept, QR2: Heather Watson, WR75 v Andrea Hlavackova, WR62

In QR1 today Heather beat Lara ARRUABARRENA-VECINO (ESP, WR89) and Hlavackova beat Sema.
Laura couldn't compete in Tokyo because she still has unfinished business in China, and she was replaced by ... Sema!
We could nearly have had Heather and Laura playing each other!

[Sallydaisy]

Hev's QR2 match is scheduled for 02.00 hrs UK time.
Hope she makes it through and into the main draw.

Don't think I'll be able to stay up for it though.

[Sallydaisy]

TOKYO FQR
Heather Watson has qualified after a great tussle against Hvalackova 5'7, 6'3, 6'2.
:clap:

[JAMES4578]

Great stuff, well done Heather!

[Sallydaisy]

Oh good grief ... Heather not having much luck with R1 draws.

TOKYO R1: WATSON, Heather (GBR, #75) Q v LISICKI, Sabine (GER,#31)

[JAMES4578]

Certainly a tough one!

[super8]

If Heather gets past Lisicki, then Sharapova would be her R2 opponent..

eek!

[pabbers]

Well if Laura can beat players of this calibre, hopefully that will urge Heather to step up to the plate.

[david1610]

Let's put this into a bit of perspective. Heather just beat players ranked 89 and 62. She is also heading towards the top 50.
That is good progress. Lisicki may be a step too far for her progress in 2012. Lisicki is also one of those players (from the little I know of the WTA) who is capable of top twenty play on her day, and so I would not want to put undue pressure on Heather. It might be the case that qualifying is her tournament when she draws somebody like Lisicki.

[Sallydaisy]

Heathers R1 match is 3rd on Court 3 - original ETA was 06.00 UK time but there's been 2 long 3-setters already. The match before Hev is currently 5-5 in the 3rd set so could yet go to a tie-breaker.

[Sallydaisy]

Heather took the first set 6'4 ...

Holding breath time as she was broken in the 5th game of the 2nd set for Lisicki to go ahead 3-2.
BUT our plucky Brit broke back and then held. She can now keep the pressure up on Lisicki (who has yet to have a love service hold) because she's serving first in this set, as she did in the first.

C'mon Hev!!!
:swingin:

[Katie]

Heather wins! :cheer: What a brilliant win, she did so well in that tie-break.

[pabbers]

Well done Heather!