THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 1, 2025

Heather Watson

Press Conference

C. TAUSON/H. Watson

2-6, 6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. I guess commiserations today. What was the key in that match slipping away from you after the first set?

HEATHER WATSON: Yeah, that's exactly how it felt for me. I started so well. I was playing how I've been practicing.

Then coming back to the second set was a long break in between the first and second set. I just served like crap in the second. Honestly, I started trying to count when I would make a first serve, and at one point I was on, like, three, and I was in the last game of the set. So I really felt like that let me down. I feel like I was sort of just hanging on. It was just that one break in the first game of the second set.

Then third set as well I was trying to find it. I feel like she started to raise her serving as well. It was just a bit like that, but I managed to keep it tight.

I thought if I go back and try and change something, what would I change. I wouldn't really change anything. I tried my best. I didn't have all the tools in my toolbox today, and I tried to make it work without, but I just was playing too good of a player to be able to get away with missing that many first serves.

Q. How do you find the conditions? All the Americans have been coming in saying it was a bit hot, but not that hot. How did you find it?

HEATHER WATSON: I felt okay today. I mean, I was sweating a lot. But yeah, I wasn't like dying out there. I tell you where I am dying though is my bedroom at night because my AC is broken.

Yeah, no, I was okay. I thought about changing my clothes, but then I quite enjoyed that it was wet, keeping me cool, so yeah.

Q. That long break at the end of the first set, do you think you were given a bit longer to sit out there and wait for the second set than maybe you needed to be?

HEATHER WATSON: It just sort of changes momentum a bit, but I still like needed to do better. I needed to serve better. I was serving okay in the first set, you know, still getting a few free points here and there.

When that second set started, it's weird because I didn't feel bad on it. I thought, Okay, I'll move the toss a bit. Okay, I'll keep my left arm up. I was keeping trying new things, but the ball just never went in.

Q. Just looking forward, obviously you've just said that you didn't feel like you had all the tools in the toolbox, do you think that might be your last Wimbledon, or what are your plans for the future basically?

HEATHER WATSON: Hopefully not. That's not my plan. I want to play as long as I'm still playing tournaments like this. I was so grateful for the opportunity when the tournament gave me the wild card, because this for me is the pinnacle. Like when I walked out onto court today, I got a little bit emotional, because it's so special.

I just appreciate it so much any time I get to be a part of this tournament. So hopefully I've still got a few left in me and I can get there on my own next year.

Q. Does this feel like a slight missed chance being a set up against a seed and the serve sort of malfunctioning, especially in this kind of heat where a big serve can...

HEATHER WATSON: Exactly. That's exactly the first words that came out of my mouth when I saw my coaches: I let that slip through my fingers. I needed to be on it that second set, and the first game especially.

With how I've been playing and how much experience I have under my belt now, I felt like this match was really mine, and I really believed it was, but some days you just don't play your best.

I'm saying that from the second set. I was playing my best in the first set. It's not the entire match, but it happens sometimes.

Q. You've kind of been around British tennis in this real era of growth. I think probably when you started in the professional game, there weren't very many of you at all. We had a record breaking day for Brits yesterday. Might break some more records today. Can you put your finger on what has changed the most just in terms of the kind of ethos around tennis. If you're at the NTC, if you imagine what it was like when you were younger and what it's like now, is it a different place to train and be a a pro?

HEATHER WATSON: NTC, I wasn't there very much because I was based in the States a lot. I can't comment on that. Yeah, there is so much strength and depth in British tennis and women's tennis. I'm trying to think what it could be.

Q. Well, just tell me what it's like training at NTC these days in terms of the atmosphere and what the kind of vibe is, I guess, compared to maybe other vibes.

HEATHER WATSON: It's tougher to get a court, that's for sure. Yeah, we're always battling over courts. We're not short of people to hit with, which is great.

Yeah, it's so good to see everyone doing well. I feel like on the men's side a lot have come through college, particularly Texas Christian University. I think when you have so many good players and you're in an environment with a really good work ethic, it just breeds more better players, breeds more competition.

I've always said, like, when training at a base like NTC, you need to let as many people in, create more competition. You know, naturally if you see somebody lifting heavy in the gym, you want to lift heavy too. You see people focused and doing those little things, you do it too.

Life is about the environment you put yourself in. So I think it's sort of happened where there are a few more good players, and then it's sort of breeded more, yeah.

Q. Just what are your hopes for the rest of the fortnight now, doubles-wise?

HEATHER WATSON: So I play doubles with Emily Appleton. We have a tough first round against Shnaider and Andreeva. Then I'm playing mixed doubles with Julian Cash. Hopefully I can produce some better serves on the doubles court.

Q. Just on the mixed, is that quite an exciting partnership? Julian has had some really good results, and obviously mixed doubles has treated you well previously.

HEATHER WATSON: I'm not going to lie buzzing that he has won back-to-back the last couple of weeks. And I've signed us in. He texted me before my match saying, Have you signed us in? I've signed us in.

Yeah, really looking forward to playing with him. We haven't spent loads of time together. He's going to hate me for saying this, but we played a dingles game. Have you ever heard of this game, dingles? It's just like a fun tennis game. It's singles and doubles combined basically.

I was carrying the team, so I'm hoping he steps up on the mixed, so (laughing)... I've had a word with him.