Heather Watson
Great Britain

  • Full name Heather Miriam Watson
  • Birth date May 19, 1992
  • Birth place Guernsey
  • Current age 31 years 305 days
  • Height 5 ft 7 in
Heather Watson wins the US Open junior girls' title
Profile

Young, talented and spirited, Heather Watson burst onto the scene when she won the US Open junior title in 2009.

A promising swimmer, Watson left home aged 12 to join Nick Bollettieri's tennis academy in Florida, which has churned out stars such as Andre Agassi and Maria Sharapova.

After winning the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games gold medal in India, Watson played her first senior tournament in March 2009, overtaking Laura Robson as the top-ranked British junior in July. Then, seeded 11th, Watson won the US Open junior title, beating doubles partner Yana Buchina in the final.

She made her WTA Tour debut in Miami in March 2010, losing in straight sets to Tsvetana Pironkova and claimed her first victory at Eastbourne, where she beat Aleksandra Wozniack 6-3 6-2.

Then, in January 2011, she reached her first WTA Tour quarter-final in Auckland to continue her steady rise up the rankings. In May, she became the first British woman to win a match at the French Open since1994, a result which saw her break into the top 100 the following month.

Career high
Winning the US Open junior title aged 17. Watson dropped just five games against Buchina, who had scuppered chances of an all-British final after beating Laura Robson in the semi-finals. She was the first Briton to win the girls title, following in the footsteps of Andy Murray, who won the boys' crown in 2004. "When I won, I hadn't realized I'd won," Watsonsaid. "I thought, 'Oh, I won the match.' And then I put my racquet down, and it finally began to sink in. I'm really proud of myself."

Career low
Bursting into tears during her post-match press conference at Wimbledon in 2011. Watson had been a set up in her first-round match against Mathilde Johansson, but an elbow injury hampered her progress. Speaking to the media after the match, Watson claimed it was the hardest defeat of her career and broke down in tears, saying, "I've never felt anything like this before. I really wanted to win and I thought I had the match. I'm just asking myself now, 'Why me?'. Why couldn't it have happened in another tournament? Why this one?"

Quotes
"If you gave me three wishes for my career I'd want to be No 1 in the world, win all four grand-slams and be a good role model."

"I feel like I'm a girl version of [Jo-Wilfried Tsonga]. We play similarly, we're both aggressive and he's a very happy guy and smiles a lot."

Trivia
Nominated as one of the WTA's 'Hot Shots' in 2011, Watson played tennis with former England striker Gary Lineker, suspended 50 metres above the River Thames with former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash providing the commentary.

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Aug 27, 2013

Heather Watson during her first-round defeat by Simona Halep

Jul 1, 2013

Heather Watson plays a drop shot

Jun 25, 2013

Heather Watson plays a forehand

Jun 17, 2013

Heather Watson celebrates victory

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