Heather
Watson was forced to retire from her quarter-final match of ITF Barnstaple
against Johanna Konta due to food poisoning.
This match
signed the end of the season for the British number three, who has had far from
a lucky one.
Watson came
to Barnstaple after a promising week in Poitiers,
where she reached the semi-finals, and so her mood and attitude were high after
the difficult season she had just left behind.
Despite
starting the season by collecting her best ranking, Watson was soon forced to
stay away from the tennis courts due to glandular fever, something she found
out only thanks to a blood test. However, she pushed her comeback too early and
hence results failed to arrive, leaving her in a state of unhappiness and
disbelief.
The week in
Poitiers came
at the right time though and earlier this week she said: “I am feeling good and
after having a good week last week, with some very tough matches in three sets,
I am feeling a lot happier, a lot more confident and just enjoying tennis more.”
She looked
very positive also on court both during training and her matches, but sadly
yesterday a bout of food poisoning hit her during her second-round match
against Vrlijc.
Nonetheless,
she overcame the sickness and Vrlijc in order to snatch a three set win, which
allowed her to meet her compatriot and friend Konta today.
The
challenge was too big this afternoon though, and Watson immediately looked
fatigued and unable to produce a quality of tennis good enough to challenge
Konta. As a result, instead of risking further injuries, she decided to retire.
The warm
hug to the net proved the friendship of the two, who are supposed to play
together in the doubles semi-final tomorrow.
The food
poisoning might have ended her season a few days earlier than hoped, but Watson
is a hard worker and she has said she is willing to be ready for the next
season.
“It just
came up being a terrible season, but I am glad I can finish it on a high note
and inspired again and motivated to play and work hard.”
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