Latest news with #HeatherWatson
BBC News
9 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Jones begins US Open qualifiers with win
US Open 2025Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 24 August-7 SeptemberCoverage: Live radio commentaries across 5 Live Sport and BBC Sounds, plus live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website & app Top seed Francesca Jones took the first step to reaching the US Open main draw by winning her opening qualifier, but Heather Watson was among four Britons to lose on number four Jones beat Slovakia's Viktoria Hruncakova 6-3 6-4. She will face Ekaterine Gorgodze of Georgia on Wednesday as she looks to reach the US Open main draw for the first time in her world number 86 has never received direct entry to a Grand Slam before and narrowly missed out this time, meaning she is the top seed in 24-year-old served six aces in a match lasted one hour 22 minutes and notched an 87% win rate on her first former British number one Watson was defeated 6-3 3-6 4-6 by Gorgodze as she failed to reach the main draw for a fourth successive women's number seven Harriet Dart edged out Romanian Anca Todoni - who sits 112 places above her in the rankings - 7-5 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (10-6).British men's number five Jan Choinski lost 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 to Argentina's Andrea Collarini, but Oliver Crawford beat Alex Bolt of Australia 5-7 6-4 Loffhagen was beaten 4-6 5-7 by Jason Kubler, while 22-year-old Jack Pinnington Jones lost 6-3 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (14-12).Jodie Burrage began her qualifying campaign with a win on Monday, but British number five Dan Evans was eliminated and will miss out on the main draw of a Grand Slam for the first time since are six Brits in action on Wednesday in the second round of qualifying:Jodie Burrage v Arantxa RusJay Clarke v Arthur CazauxBilly Harris v Mikhail KukushkinHarriet Dart v Ayana AkliOliver Crawford v Garrett JohnsFran Jones v Ekaterine GorgodzePlayers must win three matches in qualifying to advance to the main singles draws for the tournament, which begins on Draper, Cameron Norrie and Jacob Fearnley have direct entry into the men's singles, with Emma Raducanu, Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal in the women's.
New York Times
02-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Sinner on court, Musetti into second set
Follow reaction to an entertaining second day at the 2025 Championships, with American Coco Gauff one of several big names knocked out at SW19 Getty Images Getty Images The heat has not stopped play progressing at Wimbledon today as another wave of stars take to the courts. No. 1 seed Jannik Sinner is underway in the early stages of his match against Luca Nardi — that's an intriguing battle between two Italians. Meanwhile, their compatriot Lorenzo Musetti (7), last year's semifinalist here, is down a set against Georgia's Nikoloz Basilashvili over on No. 2 Court. Getty Images FINAL: Tauson 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 Watson After a stunning day for the Brits yesterday — the best in the Open Era for wins by British players at Wimbledon — we've seen a couple of home hopefuls exit today and Heather Watson is one of them. After working hard to take the first set, she let that match slip with No. 23 seed Clara Tauson taking the next two sets to seal the win. Here's what the American had to say in his on-court interview after booking his place in the second round: 'The score line lied a little bit, he was in a lot of my service games. He has a great serve, he's a tough guy to break and he had a couple of break points there which made me a little nervous. 'I tried to make it as difficult for him as I could. The grass doesn't get much better than it does at Wimbledon. Every time you come out here you feel pretty good, especially knowing that I've had some good results out here. 'I haven't played too many matches so I don't have a great idea (of where I am) but I've been practising and obviously I played a good match out here today.' Well, it's been a disappointing day for Jessica Pegula. Here's how she reflected on her first round exit against Elisabetta Cocciaretto: 'I don't know (what happened). She played absolutely incredible tennis. Do I think I played the best match ever? No, but I definitely don't think I was playing bad. It wasn't like I was playing that bad. 'She just was hitting her shots and going for it, serving big, serving high percentage, going big second serves, redirecting the ball. It was just her day I honestly think today. 'She has good results on grass, though. I remember I played her, what, fourth round a couple years ago. She obviously likes the grass and does well on it.' Caoimhe O'Neill / The Athletic Panama hats and tennis go hand in hand. All along Wimbledon Park Road there are pop-ups selling the hats you will see fill up Centre Court for the next two weeks. Soccer legend David Beckham and former England manager Gareth Southgate were both spotted wearing them in the Royal Box as Carlos Alcaraz overcame Fabio Fognini on Monday afternoon. This man was selling them for £20 per hat. That's roughly $28. Not a bad business to be in over the next two weeks. FINAL: Monday 4-6, 4-6, 2-6 Paul That's a tidy performance from Tommy Paul. A straight-sets victory wrapped up on two match points, the quarter-finalist from last year is back with a bang. He'll be glad to get out of the sun having booked his place in the next round. Here's what she had to say in her on court interview: 'To play here in such an unbelievable stadium and tournament is such a dream come true for me. I was so pumped to play here, I couldn't wait for the match to start. I played a really great champion, she's a great player and a role model for all of us. 'I had a lot of stops, last year here I was in the hospital for a month and I couldn't play here. So that's why I was so pumped to play. It's the best tournament and grass is always special to play. 'I don't think too much about my ranking right now. The journey of tennis is long, you have to adapt yourself and enjoy.' I was saying on the Tennis Podcast last week that backing players who have had a good week on the grass just before Wimbledon can often be a fool's errand. Step forward American No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula, who fresh from winning the Bad Homburg Open on Saturday, has just bombed out in the first round here, losing to the world No. 116 Elisabetta Cocciaretto. That's a big upset and a major setback for Pegula, a former quarterfinalist here. FINAL: Cocciaretto 6-2, 6-3 Pegula Well, well, well. The first two days at Wimbledon have been rocky for the seeded players and another one falls at the first round. No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula of the U.S. is out after a straight-sets defeat against Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Cocciaretto, quite understandably, looks thrilled with that result. Caoimhe O'Neill/The Athletic Southfields is a regular spot for me being a Wimbledon local. And I was tempted to call it a hidden gem but for two weeks of the year thousands of new people get to discover it as the train station is on a road that leads straight into the All England Club. Here are some of those people leaving the tube station this morning after some earlier disruption on the District line had cleared up. 'We apologise to customers using the District line for the delays to their service this morning,' a Transport for London spokesperson said. 'The delays were caused by a fire alert at South Kensington.' Monday 4-6, 1-2* Paul It's Britain against the USA over on No. 3 Court as Tommy Paul has taken the first set against wildcard Johannus Monday. And it's getting better for the No. 13 seed — Paul has just broken Monday in the second set. He lets out a little fist pump in celebration and heads straight for a towel stuffed with ice cubes to put around his neck at the changeover. Tauson 2-6, *1-0 Watson Over on Court 12 Britain's Heather Watson is in action and she has taken the first set 6-2 against No. 23 seed Clara Tauson, though she is a break down in the second. Things are heating up here at Wimbledon — it's already 30 degrees C (86 degrees F) with things set to get hotter as we move through the afternoon. There's a light breeze but it's not really taking the edge off baking conditions around the site. Cocciaretto 6-2, 0-0* Pegula Well, after a day of upsets yesterday we're off to an interesting start for third seed Jessica Pegula on No. 2 Court here. Cocciaretto has taken the first set inside 25 minutes to leave the American with a job to do in the second set. Pegula will serve first as we resume play. This is what I'm calling the fancy entrance to Centre Court. Throughout the day visitors stop here to take photos. And you can see why. Look at the ivy covered walls and colourful planters. It all looks and feels quintessentially British and as a lot of tennis fans have told me today, from England and elsewhere, this is why they make this sporting pilgrimage. There's just something about Wimbledon. Among the matches getting underway first thing here at Wimbledon are the following: Elisabetta Cocciaretto vs. Jessica Pegula (3) Johannus Monday vs. Tommy Paul (13) Alex de Minaur (11) vs. Roberto Carballés Baena But there's plenty more to come throughout the day too... Only moments away from the action starting. We can't wait. Getty Images There is some serious history behind the trophies received by the two Wimbledon singles champions. The men's singles trophy was first presented in 1887 — cup-shaped and standing 18 inches high, with a diameter of 7.5 inches. A for the women's singles trophy, that was first presented a year earlier — dish-shaped with a mythological theme, it is known as the Rosewater Dish or Venus Rosewater Dish. The winner of both will receive a three-quarter size replica bearing the names of all past champions.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wimbledon win 'slipped through my fingers'
Heather Watson has not won a game at Wimbledon since she reached the fourth round in 2022 [Rex Features] Heather Watson says she is frustrated with her first-round loss at Wimbledon to Clara Tauson. The 33-year-old from Guernsey lost 2–6 6–4 6–3 to the 23rd seed as she failed to progress beyond the opening round for the third successive year. Advertisement Watson had started strongly against the world number 22 before faltering in the final two sets. "I'm disappointed because it felt like I let it slip through my fingers, especially being in such a good place in the first set and playing so well," she told BBC Sport. Watson was particularly unhappy with her serve as she suffered her ninth first-round exit at Wimbledon. "I was just so frustrated because I don't think I've ever missed that many first serves and I didn't feel bad," she added. "I was trying to change things up, trying to find the court, take a bit of pace off, but just nothing seemed to work. Advertisement "Every time I walked up to that line I was like 'this is going to be the one, this is where it's going to change' and it just never did. "I just think that sort of stress built up as the match went on; it was just frustrating that I couldn't find it, especially because that's the one shot I'm actually in control of." Despite the loss Watson, who made the fourth round in 2022 and came close to upsetting Serena Williams in the third round back in 2015, hopes to return next year. She won the mixed doubles title in 2016 with Henri Kontinen and the pair also reached the final a year later. Advertisement "Wimbledon is my favourite tournament of the year," added Watson, who has played at every tournament since 2010. "It's why I continue to play, to be a part of this tournament, and I love and appreciate so much having the opportunity to play here again for another year. "I want to play as many years as I can just so I can play and be here at this special tournament because this is why I do it."
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wimbledon win 'slipped through my fingers'
Heather Watson has not won a game at Wimbledon since she reached the fourth round in 2022 [Rex Features] Heather Watson says she is frustrated with her first-round loss at Wimbledon to Clara Tauson. The 33-year-old from Guernsey lost 2–6 6–4 6–3 to the 23rd seed as she failed to progress beyond the opening round for the third successive year. Advertisement Watson had started strongly against the world number 22 before faltering in the final two sets. "I'm disappointed because it felt like I let it slip through my fingers, especially being in such a good place in the first set and playing so well," she told BBC Sport. Watson was particularly unhappy with her serve as she suffered her ninth first-round exit at Wimbledon. "I was just so frustrated because I don't think I've ever missed that many first serves and I didn't feel bad," she added. "I was trying to change things up, trying to find the court, take a bit of pace off, but just nothing seemed to work. Advertisement "Every time I walked up to that line I was like 'this is going to be the one, this is where it's going to change' and it just never did. "I just think that sort of stress built up as the match went on; it was just frustrating that I couldn't find it, especially because that's the one shot I'm actually in control of." Despite the loss Watson, who made the fourth round in 2022 and came close to upsetting Serena Williams in the third round back in 2015, hopes to return next year. She won the mixed doubles title in 2016 with Henri Kontinen and the pair also reached the final a year later. Advertisement "Wimbledon is my favourite tournament of the year," added Watson, who has played at every tournament since 2010. "It's why I continue to play, to be a part of this tournament, and I love and appreciate so much having the opportunity to play here again for another year. "I want to play as many years as I can just so I can play and be here at this special tournament because this is why I do it."
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wimbledon win 'slipped through my fingers'
Heather Watson says she is frustrated with her first-round loss at Wimbledon to Clara 33-year-old from Guernsey lost 2–6 6–4 6–3 to the 23rd seed as she failed to progress beyond the opening round for the third successive year. Watson had started strongly against the world number 22 before faltering in the final two sets. "I'm disappointed because it felt like I let it slip through my fingers, especially being in such a good place in the first set and playing so well," she told BBC Sport. Watson was particularly unhappy with her serve as she suffered her ninth first-round exit at Wimbledon."I was just so frustrated because I don't think I've ever missed that many first serves and I didn't feel bad," she added."I was trying to change things up, trying to find the court, take a bit of pace off, but just nothing seemed to work."Every time I walked up to that line I was like 'this is going to be the one, this is where it's going to change' and it just never did."I just think that sort of stress built up as the match went on; it was just frustrating that I couldn't find it, especially because that's the one shot I'm actually in control of." Despite the loss Watson, who made the fourth round in 2022 and came close to upsetting Serena Williams in the third round back in 2015, hopes to return next won the mixed doubles title in 2016 with Henri Kontinen and the pair also reached the final a year later."Wimbledon is my favourite tournament of the year," added Watson, who has played at every tournament since 2010."It's why I continue to play, to be a part of this tournament, and I love and appreciate so much having the opportunity to play here again for another year."I want to play as many years as I can just so I can play and be here at this special tournament because this is why I do it."
