Watson handed a tough draw in Eastbourne
HEATHER WATSON called it ‘a positive week for me in Birmingham’ despite missing out on a place in the Viking Classic final.
The Guernsey player was forced to play twice in one day after rain on Friday saw her quarter-final against third seed Donna Vekic carried into the weekend.
She impressed in her first Saturday outing as she prevailed 6-4 6-2 against the Croatian to become the first home semi-finalist of the event since Jo Durie in 1992.
But that was as far as she went as second-seed Ons Jabeur, the world No. 24, won their last-four encounter 6-3 6-3 in 72min.
The Tunisian went on to claim the title yesterday.
Watson also revealed that three-time Grand Slam title winner Andy Murray had been a great source of inspiration for her recently.
‘He is someone who works so hard, and puts in the hard yards, the blood, sweat and tears and for all of the British tennis players that train at the National Tennis Centre and see him, he is a massive inspiration.
‘I have seen him a lot in the gym, we park next to each other every day before we go to training.
‘He just loves it so much, his whole day is just tennis, tennis, tennis.’
Watson has been drawn against fourth seed and world No. 9 Iga Swiatek, the 2020 French Open champion from Poland, in the round of 32 at this week’s Viking International in Eastbourne.
