Watson Is Healthy And Eager To Compete

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 6th December 2013

Watson Is Healthy And Eager To Compete

epa03409470 Heather Watson of Britain returns a forehand against world ranking number two Maria Sharapova of Russia during the second round match of the Pan Pacific Open tennis in Tokyo, Japan, 25 September 2012. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA |

After an agonizing year she will most definitely want to forget, Britain’s Heather Watson is looking forward to rejuvenating her career in 2014 under new coach Diego Veronelli.

The 34 year-old Argentine who is based in Florida, has previously coached Joao Souza of Brazil and Argentina’s Paula Ormaechea and was introduced to Watson by countryman Dante Bottini, who she knows from her time at the IMG Bollettieri Academy in Bradenton and is currently coaching men’s world no.16 Kei Nishikori.

A year ago Watson was Britain’s top ranked female player, ahead of Laura Robson and ranked world no.39 after becoming the nation’s first title winner of the WTA circuit since 1988. Now, after struggling all year with the physical effects of mononucleosis (glandular fever) and a subsequent bout of depression, she languishes at no. 121 and faces qualifying for next month’s Australian Open.

“I would not have expected that,” said the affable 21 year-old from the Channel Island of Guernsey. “If you told me I would only be in the qualifying event of the Australian Open I would have said no way. But it happens and now I’m fine with it. I’m eating well, sleeping well, training hard.

“This year I wasn’t able to do that for much of the time because I wasn’t fully healthy so I wasn’t able to push myself like I’m doing right now.”

Watson is so determined to regain her place in the world’s top 50 that she will be leaving for Australia in about a week and expects to spend Christmas Day training there with new mentor Veronelli.

In hindsight she admits to misjudging the after effects of mono and said: “Glandular fever was an obstacle but it’s gone. It was a setback but I’m looking forward to starting afresh in 2014.

“I first felt unwell during the Australian Open in January and really didn’t feel good until after the US Open. I forced myself to come back too soon but it coincided with her having to defend plenty of points from the previous year.

“I’d never had to do that before. You cannot think about it, it just doesn’t help at all.”

Late this year, before heading off to Florida to link up with Veronelli, she showed signs of recapturing her competitive verve by reaching the semi-finals of an ITF event in Poitiers and then got the quarters in Barnstaple, Devon. “I went to France and was winning some very tough matches,” she said. “I got a bit of confidence back.”

Topics: 10sballs, Diego Veronelli, Heather Watson, Itf, Kei Nishikori, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Wta