Heather Watson is preparing for her 16th Wimbledon appearance with a mix of superstition and excitement, having polished her mixed doubles trophy from 2016 as a good luck charm. The 34-year-old British tennis star, who won the mixed doubles title alongside Henri Kontinen a decade ago, will compete in the women's doubles this year with close friend Katie Boulter after receiving a wildcard.
Memories of a Career-Defining Victory
Watson recalls the 2016 triumph as one of the best days of her life, describing the celebrations that followed her Centre Court victory. After winning, she attended the Champions Ball and later joined Lewis Hamilton at an after-party in London's West End, celebrating his British Grand Prix win the same day. "Just a wild night. I didn't get home until 7am and I am not that kind of person!" Watson said.
Reflecting on the tournament, Watson said: "When I woke up that morning, I was like, 'I'm going to win Wimbledon today.' It was just this overwhelming feeling I had. I'll never forget it." She and Kontinen had only practiced together before their opening match, eventually winning four matches to claim the title.
Wildcard Disappointment and Injury Comeback
Watson's application for a singles wildcard was denied, forcing her to play qualifying for the first time in her career. She lost in the final qualifying round to top seed Maria Timofeeva, meaning she will miss the singles main draw for the first time since 2010. "I put my request in but at the end of the day, a wildcard is a gift," Watson said diplomatically. "Everybody has their own reasons and they are valid. There's no right or wrong."
The British player spent six months sidelined with a tendon issue in her glute, which became so painful she considered retirement. "It wasn't just pain playing, it was pain in life. Just doing regular things - walking, sitting down - because you sit on the injury. It was horrible," Watson said. After months of rehab and a complete break from tennis, she is now fully fit and believes she is playing "some of the best tennis of my career" in practice.
Doubles Partnership with Katie Boulter
Watson and Boulter, who are close friends, reached the quarter-finals together at the Paris Olympics last summer. Watson revealed she persuaded Boulter to play doubles at Wimbledon, as Boulter typically focuses on singles. "I asked her out! She doesn't usually play doubles at Wimbledon but I thought I'll ask, what's the hurt? She said yeah," Watson said. "We're a really good match. Her being such a big hitter, big serve, so strong on the baseline and then me like a little ninja around the net."
When asked what would constitute a successful tournament, Watson replied: "Me and Katie walking away with the trophy. That would be top tier. Oh my god, imagine. That would be so good."
Potential Clash with Williams Sisters
Serena Williams has returned to tennis and will partner her sister Venus at Wimbledon, marking the first time since 2016 the sisters have played doubles together. Watson, who grew up with posters of the Williams sisters on her wall, expressed mixed feelings about potentially facing them. "That would be absolutely amazing, but at the same time, I don't want to. They're my heroes. They've got this aura, this energy. They're queens," Watson said.
Serena's return took the final wildcard spot in the singles draw, but Watson holds no frustration. "I think it's absolutely brilliant for the sport. I love her, I can sing her praises all day. Her longevity is insane. To be winning Grand Slams through decades, it's absolutely incredible," she said.
Watson famously faced Serena in a 2015 singles match at Wimbledon, serving for the match on Centre Court before losing to the eventual champion. She still draws inspiration from that performance. "When I'm in a negative headspace, I have to remind myself who I am, what I've done. I'll look at highlights of when I played Serena," Watson said.
Future Plans and Motivation
Since returning from injury in February, Watson has played ITF tournaments in Slovenia, Slovakia, and Japan. She admits the lower-level events have tested her love for the sport. "Going to play a small ITF in the middle of Slovenia I was like, 'nah, this isn't the one. I need to do well and get out of here ASAP.' It motivates you," she said.
When asked about her long-term future, Watson said she needs to return to Grand Slam level before considering retirement. "I have to get back to the level I was before I was injured. I have to be back in the Grand Slams. Then we go from there," she said. Playing lower-ranked tournaments permanently is "absolutely not an option," she added. "As long as I'm happy, healthy, and making a living, I'll play as long as I can."
