The veteran Sarnian, now in her 18th year competing on the professional tour, has been sidelined for the best part of the last 12 months while she recovers from injury.
With her world ranking having subsequently plummeted to 340, Watson has been left having to rely on wild cards or qualifying to gain entry into tournaments.
Unfortunately her bid to receive a wild card into this year’s Wimbledon has also coincided with the unlikely return to action of Serena Williams.
The 44-year-old 23-time singles Grand Slam winner played in the ladies’ doubles at Queens Club in London last week and is expected to be granted a wild card into the singles at Wimbledon.
That means there will be one less wild card to distribute among the British players, with Watson in danger of missing out due to her inferior world ranking.
Worse still, if Williams is also granted a wild card into the doubles competitions at Wimbledon, then Watson could be denied a place in both the ladies’ and mixed pairs as well.
‘Wild cards are players whose world ranking is not high enough to qualify automatically for the Championships, but who are accepted into the main Championships draw at the discretion of the [Wimbledon] committee,’ confirmed The All England Club yesterday, adding that ‘wild cards are usually offered on the basis of past performance at Wimbledon or to increase British interest.’
Confirmation of which players have been granted wild cards will come later today.
Traditionally all bar one or perhaps two wild cards go to British players, with the exceptions tending to be prior Wimbledon champions or runners-up from overseas.
If Williams does edge Watson to a wild card in the singles, then it will not be the first time the American has stood in the way of the Sarnian’s progress at Wimbledon.
Eleven years ago, when Williams was at her competitive peak, Watson came within just two points of defeating her in a thrilling third round clash on Centre Court.
Since returning to action in February following her long injury-enforced break, Watson’s lowly world ranking has prevented her from playing in tournaments which, in the past, would have formed part of her regular touring schedule.
Last week’s Nottingham Open was a case in point.
Unable to secure a place in the qualifying tournament, let alone the main draw, Watson had been hoping to play in the ladies’ doubles at the very least. Alas, even that was denied her, with higher-ranked players being offered the few remaining pairs places instead.
In short, Watson needs match practice if she’s going to return to full fitness and improve her world ranking. At the moment, through little fault of her own, she is not getting it.
This year’s Wimbledon begins on Monday 29 June.
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