Watson leaves it late but Raducanu is out

As of yesterday, Heather Watson had yet to decide whether to defy doctor’s orders and continue her campaign after suffering a hamstring injury in her 6-4, 6-2 first-round win on Monday over American Katie Volynets.

Meanwhile, US Open champion Emma Raducanu, who was a potential second-round opponent for the Guernsey star, is definitely sidelined after retiring injured from her first round match with Viktorija Golubic yesterday shortly after the Swiss player had moved 4-3 ahead with a break of serve.

The 19-year-old British No. 1 was suffering from a problem to her left side in his first WTA match on home soil since winning at Flushing Meadows so memorably last September.

Even before Raducanu’s retirement, though, Watson did not know whether she would be fit enough to continue in the event.

‘It doesn’t matter who I am playing, I have just got to do what is best for me and the rest of this grass court season because it is my favourite time of the year. Favourite doesn’t even do it justice,’ she said.

‘I have to be smart. If it was any other tournament, apart from a grand slam, I would have called it because you know it’s not going to get better just like that.

‘When the physio came on she didn’t want me to continue, but it’s the grass court season, my favourite season of the year. I had to give it a try at least.

‘Even now I am being advised not to play because I could miss the rest of the grass season and I am not someone who gets injured a lot so this is extra frustrating.

‘I have to be smart but I am going to play it by ear, I am not going to make a decision yet.

‘I have got at least a day and then I will see how I am recovering. I know from experience my body heals quite quickly. Also I don’t usually get injured.’

• GLASGOW is to host the finals of the Billie Jean King Cup later this year as the competition returns to Great Britain for the first time since 1991.

The competition, previously known as the Federation Cup and then the Fed Cup, will be staged at the Emirates Arena between November 8 and 13.

Great Britain were beaten by the Czech Republic in April’s qualifiers but, as hosts, will compete alongside the 11 other teams in the finals. It is a second major event for the Scottish city, which is also hosting group D of the Davis Cup in September.

‘This is an amazing opportunity to build the profile of women’s tennis and focus attention on women’s sport,’ said GB captain Anne Keothavong.

‘The entire team are thrilled about playing in front of a home crowd and hearing some loud support across the whole week.’

Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Italy, Kazakhstan, Poland, Spain, Slovakia, Switzerland and the United States are the other teams who will compete in four round-robin groups of three, with the group winners qualifying for semi-finals.