Week 25 - WTA Premier ($710,000) - Eastbourne, UK - Grass

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

RE: Week 25 - WTA Premier ($710,000) - Eastbourne, UK - Grass

Maza1987 · Challenger level

long overdue win against a top 20 player

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Excellent win for Hev biggrin - a career best and despite losing such a close first set.

Heather has been playing well enough all year to get a top 20 win but because of her ranking opportunities have been a bit limited so I'm pleased to see her grab the chance today.

She suffered a tough defeat last week and clearly hasn't let it affect her confidence at all.

paulisi · Tennis legend

There are quite big gaps in points for players on the ranking lists around Hev such that Hev is provisionally 67th after that win.

I'm not sure she will get past Kvitova next(assuming she wins)

A favourable draw next week could get Hev close to top 50 with very little to defend for a while.

-- Edited by paulisi on Wednesday 18th of June 2014 04:07:14 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Superb !

I had a feeling in my bones that today was a big possibility of that first top 20 win ( honest, guv ), but just dared not voice it.

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

Awesome stuff from Hev. Was a bit worried in the early games but she certainly got going.

I hope she now gets that confidence boost to believe she can beat the better players and have more like this on a regular basis

Jan · Hall of fame

Fantastic from Hev - I really enjoyed watching that!

Sim · County player

Didn't see the match but sounds like Hev played really well. Should give her lots of confidence going forwards.... quarter final in next tournament would be good biggrin

steven · Tennis legend

QF: (WC) Heather Watson WR 70 v (2) Petra Kvitová (CZE) WR 6 (CH 2 in 2011)

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Great match. Hev being a gutsy battler as ever. she seems to be hitting the ball harder than before I knew she'd decided to be more aggressive but this is the first time I've seen her play so really happy about the change in her game style. All the best with Kvitova, just not holding my breath..

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Kvitova will be a tough match for Heather, especially in terms of being able to play her more attacking style. On the other hand, Petra's bad days are worse than anyone else's in the top ten.

Jan · Hall of fame

tweets:

"Stuart Fraser @stu_fraser

BREAKING: Heather Watson through to the Eastbourne semi-finals as Petra Kvitova withdraws through injury.

As a result, Watson is first British semi-finalist in Eastbourne for 22 years. Jo Durie the last in 1982. Watson plays Davis or Keys on Fri."

Shame for Kvitova, but Go Hev!!!!!!!!

steven · Tennis legend

Kvitova has withdrawn, making Heather the first British woman for 32 years (Jo Durie 1982) to make the singles semi-finals here, if not quite the way she'd want to. She'll play Madison Keys or qualifier Lauren Davis, who have come through what always looked like the weakest quarter of the draw.

Jaffa · Challenger level

Winnable match in the semis too... This could be the big breakthrough!

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

A bit of luck for Heather there but withdrawals are not that uncommon the week before a grand slam.

I think Lauren Davis would be a great match-up for Heather if she wins today but Keys is a lot tougher a proposition.