Watson looking to next season after injury wrecked her Shrewsbury final

Monday 21 October 2024

Heather Watson’s run in the Lexus W100 Shrewsbury was ended by injury in the final.

Watson was 7-5, 4-1 down against fellow Brit Sonay Kartal when she was forced to retire.

Tennis of the ???????????????????????????? quality from @HeatherWatson92 & Sonay Kartal! ????

What a final we have on our hands at the Lexus W100 Shrewsbury ???? pic.twitter.com/GUHfK8AdXz

— LTA (@the_LTA) October 20, 2024

She had called for a physio early in the second set to deal with a problem in her right leg and attempts to continue proved futile.

"My plan was to fly to Spain tomorrow for the next tournament, but I don't think that's going to be happening," said Watson in a court side interview afterwards.

"So I did have a couple more tournaments on on the schedule, but I'll see how this goes and and I definitely will give myself a bit of a break at the end of the year this year so I can start next year fresh, because I want to play as long as I can, because I love it.

"I love playing, especially on courts like this, on days like today, coming out and every seat is fall, I just appreciate it so much more now."

Watson had battled back from going 4-1 down in the first to lead 5-4 before Kartal, who did not drop a set all tournament, fought back to take it 7-5.

The Lexus W100 Shrewsbury is the biggest UK indoor women's tennis tournament.

Watson had beaten Simona Waltert in the semi, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.

She has risen 23 places in the world rankings to 134.

Pictured top: W100 Shrewsbury Facebook post to preview the final.