First, the good news. The Sarnian will compete at The All England Club this year in some form, having been granted a wild card into the ladies’ doubles where she will partner fellow Brit Katie Boulter.
The bad news is Watson was not among the list of players granted a wild card into the main singles draw.
That said, one singles wild card remains up for grabs following the initial announcement by The All England Club yesterday.
In all likelihood that will go to Serena Williams, the seven-time Wimbledon ladies’ singles champion, who has recently returned to action at the age of 44 following a lengthy break from the sport.
However, until otherwise confirmed, there is still an outside chance Watson could receive that eighth and final wild card.
If she does not, then Watson will have to negotiate the tortuous qualifying tournament held next week in nearby Roehampton in order to secure a place in the main draw.
Having missed the best part of the last 12 months due to injury, it would take a monumental effort by Watson to win three matches played over consecutive days, which is what she would need to do in order to qualify for the first round proper.
‘We’ve still got quite a bit of time before the Championships start, so the decision [about which player gets the final wild card] will be made as and when the time is right,’ said a Wimbledon spokesman following yesterday’s announcement. ‘At the moment we just don’t know when that will be.’
Watson’s best results at Wimbledon over the years have come in the mixed doubles.
In 2016 she partnered Henri Kontinen of Finland to the title. Twelve months later they almost did it again, finishing runners-up.
All being well, given her outstanding previous record, Watson will be granted a place in the mixed pairs at this year’s Championships.
Confirmation of that, along with the identity of her prospective doubles partner, will only be made once Wimbledon fortnight begins, with the mixed event due to get under way on either the Thursday or Friday of the first week.
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