Heather Watson is a British professional tennis player. She is a former British No 1, having won nine titles over her career, including the mixed-doubles title at the 2016 Wimbledon Championships, partnering Henri Kontinen. In October 2012, Heather Watson won her first WTA Tour singles title at the Japan Women’s Open, becoming the first British woman to win a WTA tournament singles title since Sara Gomer in 1988.
Heather Watson was born on May 19, 1992, in Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, the United Kingdom. She started in tennis as a kid and showed her great talent. She won the British Under-14 Championship in 2006, and the following year won the British Under-16 Championship and reached the semifinals of the British Under-18 Championship. In her junior career, Heather Watson won the Junior US Open and a gold medal at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games. She reached No 3 in the world on the ITF Junior Circuit.
Heather Watson made her professional debut in 2009 at the $25,000 Jersey (UK) tournament, reaching the second round. Later the same season she won her first ITF trophy at the $10,000 Frinton (UK) and reached the semi-final of the 10,000 Felixstowe (UK). The same season she competed also in the junior tour, winning the Junior US Open.
In 2010, Heather Watson won two more ITF titles at the $60,000 W60 Toronto (Canada) and $25,000 Wrexham (UK) and also debuted in the WTA Tour, playing in the main scheme of the Master’s tournament WTA 1000 Miami Open, but lost in the first round. During the season, Heather Watson also played at the WTA 500 Credit One Charleston Open, WTA 250 Rothesay Classic Birmingham, and WTA 500 Rothesay International Eastbourne. She debuted in the Grand Slam, playing in the main scheme of the Wimbledon.
Heather Watson improved her gameplay in 2011 and played in the quarter-finals of the WTA 250 ASB Classic, WTA 250 US National Indoor Tennis Championships, and WTA 250 Quebec Open. During the season, she also reached the second round of the French Open / Roland Garros. Meanwhile, she was the runner-up at the $75,000 Shrewsbury (UK).
In 2012, Heather Watson won her first WTA title at the WTA 250 Japan Women’s Open Tennis. During the season, she reached the third rounds of Wimbledon and WTA 1000 Miami Open. Following her strong performance, she entered into the world’s Top 50 and finished the season as No 49.
Heather Watson started strongly the 2013 season, reaching the third round of the Australian Open and the quarter-finals of the WTA 250 US National Indoor Tennis Championships. However, the rest of the season was not much successful in the WTA Tour and her ranking dropped out of the Top 100.
In 2014, Heather Watson won the prestigious ITF titles at the $100,000 W100 Midland, MI (USA) and $100,000 Prague (Czech Republic). She reached the semi-finals of the WTA 500 Rothesay International Eastbourne, as well as the third round of the WTA 1000 Rogers Cup and the second round of the French Open / Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
In 2015, Heather Watson won her second WTA title at the WTA 250 Hobart International. She reached the fourth round of the WTA 1000 Indian Wells Open and the third round of the Wimbledon. For a while during the season, she entered the Top 50 but finished at the world’s No 55.
Heather Watson made another strong season in 2016, winning the title at the WTA 250 Abierto GNP Seguros. She also reached the fourth round of the WTA 1000 Miami Open and the quarter-finals of the WTA 250 Hobart International. She also represented her country in the Rio 2016 Olympics.
In 2017, Heather Watson had a hesitant start to the season, but in June reached the semi-finals of the WTA 500 Rothesay International Eastbourne and the third round of Wimbledon. During the season she was the runner-up at the $100,000 W100 Surbiton (UK).
In 2018, she had another good performance at the WTA 250 Hobart International, reaching the semi-finals, but lost to Elise Mertens and failed to win her second tournament title. During the season, Heather Watson reached the semi-finals of the WTA 250 Quebec Open and the quarter-finals of the WTA 125 Oracle Challenger Series. Meanwhile, she was the runner-up at the $100,000 W100 Vancouver (Canada).
Heather Watson made another bad season start in 2019, losing in the first round of the all tournaments she started. In May, she succeeded to win the title of the $60,000 W60 Fukuoka (Japan) and played in the quarter-finals of the $60,000 W60 Kurume (Japan) and $100,000 W100 Surbiton (UK). In August, she won the title at the $100,000 W100 Vancouver (Canada) and reached the semi-finals of the WTA 125 Oracle Challenger Series in New Haven, USA. At the last tournament for the season, however, she made a great performance, being the runner-up at the WTA 250 Tianjin Open.
In 2020, Heather Watson won another WTA title at the WTA 250 Abierto Mexicano TELCEL Presentado Por HSBC but also reached the semi-finals of the WTA 250 Hobart International. However, she failed to record some other significant successes during the short tennis season.
Heather Watson made her most terrible season in 2021, as the lack of practice during the previous season and no preparational program seriously affected her performance. She recorded a terrible 7-17 (Win-Loses) during the season and her best achievement was the semi-final of the WTA 250 Rothesay Classic Birmingham and the second round of the Australian Open.
In 2022, Heather Watson returned to form and started with a second round of the Australian Open and the third round of the WTA 1000 Miami Open. During the summer, she reached the fourth round of the Wimbledon, which is her best achievement in the Grand Slam. However, her season after this was interrupted by injuries, but however, succeeded to reach the final of the $60,000 W60 Glasgow (UK).
In 2023, Heather Watson played in both ITF Circuit and WTA Tour. She reached the quarter-finals of the WTA 250 GSB Thailand Open and was the runner-up at the $25,000 W25 Glasgow (UK) and $40,000 W40+H CALVI (France). In June, she reached the semi-finals of the WTA 250 Rothesay Open Nottingham, but lost to her compatriot and later champion Katie Boulter.
Heather Watson photos
