Wimbledon Ladies' Draw 2015

Spectator · All-time great

RE: Wimbledon Ladies' Draw 2015

nicofrance · Intermediate Club Player

I think some might think Heather choked but it was more Serena just upping her game at the right time, it wasn't as if Heather had an easy put away or dumped a volley into the net at the key time or double faulted.

Its clear to see what she needs to work on, if she could just add a few MPH to her serve this would really help. Her movement is excellent , the biggest test for her now is how she reacts to this loss.

She needs to take belief from the fact that she played her best tennis, that she can handle the big stage. I think the fans today were brilliant but she needs to become more consistent throughout the year.

I do think she can get into the top 20, her goal before the end of the year is to get into the top 30 and be seeded for future GS.

rebel_rebel · Lower Club Player

So disappointed I was at work and unable to watch. I had to make do with the live feed on the BBC website. Serena was very complimentary after the match and I hope Heather proved some of the naysayers wrong. I hope she can maintain a level of constinency now.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Heather didn't lose the match, Serena won it. I didn't see a choke, one dreadful backhand towards the end and maybe a bit passive at 15-30 serving for it but that was it.

Serena was about 70% today and she still found a way to win. Like her or not shes a true champion and thats whatchampions do.

Heather saying all the right things in press. Very proud of her.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Also Heather didn't have a real play on her points for 4-0 i thought.

Plus don't forget Serena made a complete mess of the previous game, she should never have been broken a second time.

Hope this is the catalyst for a special second half of the year

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Wow, what a match that was - sporting drama at it's best where it felt like every point was crucial and the intensity was so high.

After a first set that basically followed the expected script Heather upped her game in the second, but at 6-2 4-3 it looked to be early over. From then on Heather played unbelievably well for an hour of incredible tennis. Serena did make lots of errors but only because she was playing at such a high level of intensity to counter Heather and the crowd (btw I thought the crowd atmosphere was excellent, fully behind Heather without ever overstepping the mark).

She had Serena almost at breaking point and that epic game at 3-0 probably decided it. At that point Heather was totally in the zone and there looked to be no way back from 4-0. You can't say Heather threw it away at all because even if her level did dip, it was only from amazing down to very high.

Hopefully now Heather can take that level of tennis to matches where she is player less heralded opponents without the home support. She did seem to be lacking a bit of belief at times this year though, so I can see this being a big boost in that regard.

steven · Tennis legend

A lot of Brits have pushed top players close at Wimbledon over the years and then fallen away but I don't think any of those players did so by playing as well as Heather did against Serena - the only British players I can think of who have played that well against a player right at the top only to come up slightly short have ended up in the top 10 in the end. Indeed, I wouldn't even say grass particularly suits Heather, especially not in the way it has suited Brits who have done well at Wimbledon in the past without following it up.

I also think there might be a difference between doing something like this in R1 and doing it in R3 - a close loss to a top player in R1 must feel like a bit of a one-off, especially when you don't get a ranking boost from it, but when you add beating a seed and then a former top 5 player to an incredible performance in defeat against the world no. 1, there are all kinds of reasons to be confident going forward.

LordBrownof · Futures level

steven wrote:
A lot of Brits have pushed top players close at Wimbledon over the years and then fallen away but I don't think any of those players did so by playing as well as Heather did against Serena - the only British players I can think of who have played that well against a player right at the top only to come up slightly short have ended up in the top 10 in the end. Indeed, I wouldn't even say grass particularly suits Heather, especially not in the way it has suited Brits who have done well at Wimbledon in the past without following it up.

I also think there might be a difference between doing something like this in R1 and doing it in R3 - a close loss to a top player in R1 must feel like a bit of a one-off, especially when you don't get a ranking boost from it, but when you add beating a seed and then a former top 5 player to an incredible performance in defeat against the world no. 1, there are all kinds of reasons to be confident going forward.

Agree. I don't think the grass suits her game particularly either. The topspin on her forehand often leads to a hugh bounce on the grass and there were a few times when Serena (and Caroline) could both swat it away. However, the the Serena match especially I thought she managed that issue pretty well.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Sam Smith made the comment that Heather has been playing this way in practice for a very long time and has been frustrated that she hasn't been able to do it with any consistency on the match court. That makes sense to me. We have all seen good patches from Heather this year mixed in with patches where she has looked ill at ease and out of sorts. I guess struggling to do what one side of her brain was telling her when the other side was wanting her to play in her old way which must feel more natural and comfortable. And changes worked on in training can take a long time to bed in sufficiently to show on the match court.

If this is so, it suggests Heather may well play this way more frequently from here on in. (crosses fingers, toes etc!)

Sim · County player

Andy Murray tweeted:

Retweet if @HeatherWatson92 just made you feel really effing proud! Favourite if she made you feel really effing proud!

Heather herself tweeted:

BEST ATMOSPHERE EVER... Honestly so blessed. Thank you everyone!! Serena proved why she is the best today... I'll be back tho I promise x

Sim · County player

No rest for Heather, after yesterday's epic she has 2 matches to play today in the doubles and mixed doubles.

Would be completely understandable if she was very flat, but wouldn't it be great if Marina and Hev could go deep in the doubles. At a minimum they should get some fantastic support.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Hev, I feel has also benefited from some mentoring and role modelling from Andy. He's played mixed doubles with her on a number of occasions even when she wasn't the highest ranked girl and it was part of his GS prep in Aus.

my general impression is he has always supported her because of her work ethic and commitment to be the best she can be. Wardy was pretty open about his friendship with and the generally supportive behaviour around the other UK players. I feel a part of this years general success is related to this contact and dissipation of his general attitudes towards incremental gain, particularly on and around mental resilience.

Yesterday I saw a mentally strong performance against the best female tennis player I have see. Serena has a power advantage and weapons, particularly her serve that when fully functional will just close out a game. If anything Heather and the crowd got in Serenas head and it was only after she managed to get her self together midway through the third did she manage to squeeze through. I didn't see any choking on Heathers side although Serena was close.

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Saturday 4th of July 2015 08:53:13 AM

wimdledont · Challenger level

I thought her play resembled Andy's. Her movement was just fantastic - as good as any player on the tour. Her improved serve has been noted already. I thought her backhand, particularly the crosscourt, was operating at a whole new level. There was no sign of a choke from Heather - Serena 'twas who handed out at least one break with a DF.

Really glad she got a chance to play Serena at last. I think players generally improve as the quality of the opposition improves. If Heather can carry on punishing anything coming at her backhand like that in future matches, I think she can realistically hope to meet Serena again and again, much deeper into future tournaments.

Still vulnerable to the weak dolly-drop which bounces half way up the service court, giving Hev an open court. Jumps at it every time, and knocks it over the baseline.

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

Serena was close to tears at the continuing excellence from Heather deep into the 3rd set: the point for 0-15 at 4-4 genuinely shocked her, I think, leading to the break to love; she could see the grand slam slipping away. I agree; no choking from Heather (albeit there was one bad miss but I didn't see that as a choked shot); Serena just managed to find a way.

Here's hoping Heather got a decent night's sleep (I know I woke up several times bemoaning the final result!) and comes out firing on the dubs courts today; it would be fitting if she and Marina could emulate their Premier title win here :)

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Certainly yesterday's match was one of those where you are still thinking about it the next day. As a final thought - not only will it hopefully inspire Heather in her future matches but maybe other British players too. For example, Katie Swan was in the crowd and I'm sure she will be motivated to one day experience that sort of crowd backing for her own matches.

Anyway, Wimbledon up and running again today and Joss & Anna are on court