• WTA Tour

Watson in line for French Open return

ESPN staff
May 15, 2013
Heather Watson has recovered in time for the French Open © Getty Images
Enlarge

Heather Watson has resumed training and there is every chance the British No. 2 will feature at the French Open, which begins on May 26.

Watson hasn't played since March after being struck down by a bout of glandular fever, but she has been told she can resume training and will compete at next week's Strasbourg Open.

Having felt under the weather during some events in America at the beginning of the year, Watson was ordered home to Guernsey to rest after blood tests revealed she was suffering from the illness, which has varying degrees of severity.

But the 20-year-old has now been told she can resume training and the WTA warm-up event in the French town will provide some competitive action ahead of the second grand slam of the year at Roland Garros.

In her absence, Watson lost her British No. 1 position to Laura Robson and has slipped from 39 to 47 in the WTA world rankings.

Glandular fever has affected an alarming amount of tennis players. The likes of Roger Federer, Justine Henin and Andy Roddick got through it and resumed their careers relatively quickly.

But others have not been so fortunate. Mario Ancic was never the same player after contracting the disease while two-time French Open finalist Robin Soderling claims it is the reason his career ended at 26.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices