THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 5, 2023

Heather Watson

Press Conference

B. KREJCIKOVA/H. Watson

6-2, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. How are you feeling?

HEATHER WATSON: Yeah, I mean, initially coming off the court, really upset. Felt deflated, disappointed.

I look forward to these moments so much now. For it to be over in the first round, this is just not how I envisioned it, not what I want.

But it was tough. It was always going to be a tough ask, tough match against, you know, 10 in the world, Grand Slam champion. But I believed. I believed I could win. Everybody's human. We all have our days. I know how well I have been playing.

But I thought she just played so well today. I thought she served so well. She just never gave me a look in. I think my returns are one of the strongest parts of my game. She was just relentless with it.

Q. You have been playing really well. Does it make it even more disappointing knowing you were in really good form going into this?

HEATHER WATSON: Yeah, I feel like I was playing much better this year than I was last year. You know, it just happens withdraws sometimes. On the day, yeah, she was much better today. She was really, really good.

Yeah, it's disappointing, because I know how well I'm playing. But I need a little bit of luck along the way.

Q. There were a lot of ball tosses that didn't get hit out there in the medical timeout, shall we say it, a key moment for you really. I don't want to put words in your mouth or anything like that, but is that the game as it is at the moment, or do you think there was something else at play there?

HEATHER WATSON: The ball toss I think must just be her thing. But I love that the crowd picked it out (smiling). That was funny. But what can you do?

Then the medical timeout, I mean, when I'm serving I think at 40-Love, that's not the time. But I don't know what happened. I didn't see anything, so...

Q. Just that's that? Done?

HEATHER WATSON: Yeah.

Q. I don't know if you know, you probably did, but Sue Barker was there watching you.

HEATHER WATSON: Was she? Oh, I love Sue so much.

Q. I was going to ask you if you were aware of that and if you managed to talk to her. Clearly not.

HEATHER WATSON: No, I didn't know. I only look at my box really. And there was one young girl on that opposite side that I just, I don't know, I kept hearing her, so I started fist pumping to her, using her energy, as well.

But I didn't know Sue was there. But I absolutely adore her. She's such an amazing person.

Q. I think she said last year that even though she was leaving the role she was definitely going to come back and watch you.

HEATHER WATSON: Really?

Q. I guess it's nice she did do it even though you didn't realize it at the time.

HEATHER WATSON: I didn't know, but I love her. I admire her so much. I think she's absolutely brilliant. She's someone I really look up to.

Yeah, she's so supportive of me. She sends me messages during the year in support. I'm really grateful for that. I will text her now (smiling).

Q. You have been here enough over the years to endure rain delays and to know what they're like and how frustrating they can be, but looking at the draw today, it's like some people had already got through to the third round before you had even hit a ball in anger. You're here in the singles, in the doubles and the doubles. Does that get frustrating a bit sometimes to you when you think you just want to get on and get started?

HEATHER WATSON: I actually think we were really lucky that we didn't have any interruptions in our match, so I feel grateful that they put us on Court 1 and that we had no rain delays, we didn't have to come off at all.

And also, I had an injury in Eastbourne, so that actually that extra day didn't hurt me.

Q. What was the injury?

HEATHER WATSON: It was my leg. I had a strain.

Q. It's all right now?

HEATHER WATSON: Yeah, it didn't hinder me today.

Q. With the doubles and everything, I suppose you may be playing twice a day. I don't know really.

HEATHER WATSON: I don't know. I don't think they're too far behind, because they would have maybe started doubles today, but I know they wouldn't have started mixed doubles.

Q. A lot of singles canceled today as well.

HEATHER WATSON: Oh, really? I don't know. I have no idea, but I look forward to playing.

Q. Looking forward to that? Joe Salisbury, isn't it?

HEATHER WATSON: Yeah. New partner. I'm happy. I asked him, and I thought no chance. He said yeah. That's great. It's a bonus.

Q. So you did the asking?

HEATHER WATSON: I did. I'm a go-getter. The man doesn't always have to ask. The women can ask too (smiling).

Q. Absolutely.

HEATHER WATSON: Right? Can I get an amen?