AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 20, 2022

Heather Watson

Press Conference

T. ZIDANSEK/H. Watson

7-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Not the result you were hoping for today, but what positives are you taking from the match?

HEATHER WATSON: Yeah, I felt like I played a really tough opponent today. She played really well. I couldn't find really any holes in her game. I just tried to stick with her. I felt like she raised her level a lot from last week, although the score line was closer then.

Yeah, I gave everything I had, threw everything at her, and just couldn't find answers today.

Q. What do you think made the difference near the end of both sets?

HEATHER WATSON: I think just a point here or there really made a difference. I felt like she did a really good job of taking my serve away. She stood quite far in for the return, and I felt like last week when I played her, I got a lot of aces, and my first serve percentage wasn't as good today.

Yeah, I felt like my game plan was to go into her backhand, but I felt like she was still really hurting me off that side, so yeah, I just tried to stick with her, and she was the better player today.

Q. The first set was so close; you had the set point, as well, didn't you. So it was just as you said, the odd point here and there, wasn't it?

HEATHER WATSON: Yeah, and I think to myself, if I hit a better return there, but I was hitting some really good shots today, and she was coming back with interest, so you just never know.

Yeah, it was hard because sometimes I felt like when I was being really aggressive, it was working, but then other times she sort of liked the pace. Yeah, she was too good for me today.

Q. I guess this shouldn't affect your positive mindset?

HEATHER WATSON: Yeah, I came off court, and I wasn't mad at myself or anything. I felt like I gave everything I had with what I had today. I don't think it was my best tennis, but it was far from my worst.

I was happy with my effort and my fight and my focus, and yeah, I can't wait to play the next tournament. I feel ready to go. I want to keep working hard, keep my fitness up, and yeah, I'm looking forward to this year.

Q. It was a good win in the doubles yesterday, though.

HEATHER WATSON: Yeah, it was a long one. It was over two and a half hours. It was a quick turnaround today to being second on. I was quite surprised at that, actually.

But yeah, really happy we got the win, and I'm guessing we'll play again tomorrow.

Q. As you said, you have still got the doubles, but what's your singles schedule after here?

HEATHER WATSON: Well, there's not really many options. It's just Dubai and Doha, which is what I'm entered in, but because there aren't many options, I feel like -- I was just talking to one of the players in the locker room actually that I'm going to have to enter an ITF just in case because everybody is going to be playing the same thing. I know they've made the draw bigger in Dubai, so that should help, but still.

Q. But you feel like there need to be a few more tournaments really, or try to get a few more tournaments at tour level?

HEATHER WATSON: Yeah, I think so, because a lot of players in the in between -- it's not even in between, but like from 70 to like 250, it's hard to -- you either play a lower ITF or Dubai/Doha.

Q. Can I ask your take on the COVID rules here. Are you happy the way things have been here?

HEATHER WATSON: Personally, yeah, I haven't really thought too much about it because it's felt more like normal life getting back on track. Very different to last year in my experience. Actually I had a lot of stress coming into this year that that could happen again.

Yeah, I genuinely haven't thought about it too much.

Q. Have you tested yourself?

HEATHER WATSON: I haven't tested since Adelaide personally, no.

Q. Have you been asked to?

HEATHER WATSON: No. I think once you've done your day five, that's the rules.