Heather diagnosed with glandular fever

steven · Tennis legend

Heather diagnosed with glandular fever

steven · Tennis legend

Apparently Hev hasn't been ruled out of the Fed Cup tie yet. While glandular fever, like any illness, no doubt has grades of seriousness, I'd be quite amazed if she does manage to play in Buenos Aires - and if she did and had a relapse, that would be disastrous.

Hev not playing would be a quite a blow to our chances, especially on clay, but at least Laura, Anne & JoKo are all showing signs of an upturn in form if we do have to do without her.

indiana · Tennis legend

Oh dear, but at least it explains some things. I was more worried at first in reading the thread title, given how variably glandular fever can effect folk, but at least its reportedly at its tailend. Can still I believe quite often, as Steven indicates, be annoying to get fully rid off.

I am a little surprised that, given Heather says she has been feeling tired and exhausted in training snd matches for months, that this wasn't tested for and found before now.

But got there in the end, and in retropect Heather has probably done very well to have achieved what she has this year, which I never thought as bad as she seemed to. But then she was clearly worried about more than just form.

May you be back to full health asap, Heather.

( by the way, I hope some tweeters etc feel proud of themselves now - not, given some of the abuse Heather got for ever feeling that she did need a break )

Maza1987 · Challenger level

Get well soon.

indiana · Tennis legend

Seems crazy to me to be still considering Fed Cup.

However tailend her GF is, and better she is supposed to be already feeling, I would have thought flying off to Argentina in probably less than two weeks time to play in such a contest as this would be far from in her best interests.

Hopefully though, expert folk will make good decisions with Heather's health being paramount.

philwrig · Hall of fame

At least she's got through the worst of the illness, and it must have been a mild dose of it, but I agree she shouldn't come back until she is 100% even if that means missing the Fed Cup.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Amazing really that Heather has battled though several 3 hour + matches and even won a couple struggling with glandular fever. Probably not bad news for her to hear as she is on the tail end of the illness and she now has an explanation for a lack of energy in recent months.

Would be tough for Hev to miss Fed Cup but I don't think she will play again until she has another test which confirms she is all clear.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

I hope not. It would be awful if she tries to come back before she is well again, and makes the situation worse. Keep smiling, Heather, you'll be back!

blob · All-time great

Get well.
Everything else is irrelevant.
Best wishes Heather.

Jan · Hall of fame

Poor Heather - hope she gives herself time for her body to recover properly. We'll look forward to having her back in action when the time is right. All the best for a complete recovery Hev!!

Spectator · All-time great

What an amazing fighter Ms Watson is. Glad (in a sense) to hear that she knows now what the issue has been. Hope she gets well soon.

steven · Tennis legend

I thought I'd resurrect this thread (rather than putting it on the Barnstaple thread where it will quickly get lost once today's action starts) to post a link to a searingly honest interview with Heather in the Telegraph today.

http://bit.ly/1aVdS0G

None of it a great surprise when you think what she must have gone through this year, yet still quite shocking when you see it all down in writing like that.

Spectator · All-time great

One can only wish Ms Watson all the best. A lovely person and a gifted player. Hope her honesty is an inspiration to others who struggle. (And interesting that those on this board who had felt that the battle with Ms McHale had more than the usual significance were entirely correct. Wish Ms McHale all the best, too - and hope they can draw strength from each other).

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

Interesting read. Sounds like she's gotten over it now physically, the mental side may take longer. It's quite shocking for someone who always comes across so bubbly. I wish Hev all the best in getting back to where she was. Who knows, she may be able to use this to spur her on even more than before. It looks like she might have turned the corner now. I hope this week keeps the momentum going. Shame it may be her vs Jo in the QF if they both get there. Would have liked it to be the final really

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Such a moving and well-written article. And hugely beneficial, I'm sure, for other players to see (there is a philosophy that to show weakness means that you are a loser, or ripe for losing, but actually it can be a sign of strength). Good luck to Heather.

Very interesting to hear her view on the difference between the women's and men's tour - I've heard similar comments from a couple of other ITF level players - it's a hard cold world, women's tennis.