Close menu

Heather Watson plans break from tennis after Miami loss

Last updated on .From the section Tenniscomments90

Heather Watson and Ayumi Morita

British number one Heather Watson intends to take a break from tennis after losing in the first round for the second tournament in succession.

She was beaten 1-6 7-5 6-4 by Ayumi Morita of Japan in the Miami Masters, and is yet to win a match since reaching 39 in the world rankings.

"This year I've been going a bit too long so I'm a bit burnt out," she told BBC Radio 5 live.

"I've been thinking about it now for a while and I'm going to take a break."

The 20-year-old, easily won the first set against Morita and raced into a 4-1 lead in the next.

But Morita, ranked 11 places below her young opponent, hit back to lead 5-4 and broke Watson again to force a decider.

The 23-year-old Japanese player secured two more breaks and completed victory in two hours 45 minutes when she converted a third match point.

"I was looking at the stats and I actually won more points, but that can happen in tennis," Watson observed.

"It really hurts, I think I just need to find myself, find my game again."

Asked about losing the pattern of the match after such a dominant start she said: "I was playing really well, probably the best I've played this year, and I think I lost my concentration a bit, but that was enough for her to gain some confidence and step forward, and it kind of pushed me back and I started to play a lot worse.

"I still tried to fight but it just wasn't good enough, I wasn't aggressive enough."

Despite Watson is yet to beat a player ranked higher than her this season.

The Guernsey-born Briton benefitted from the retirement of world number 27 Sorana Cirstea in her season-opening event in Auckland.

She was denied the chance to change that statistic as Ayumi advanced to play Belgian world number 30 Yanina Wickmayer in the next round.

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

90 comments

  • Comment posted by Cheesyboy, at 11:06 20 Mar 2013

    @ 6..."I can't imagine Murray needing time out coming into the season, the time for rest was 2 months ago."
    Erm..... Murray just had a break after the Aussie Open (January) and didn't play until Indian Wells (7th March). About 6 weeks.

  • Comment posted by User0280748438, at 11:31 20 Mar 2013

    amazing how people on here don't understand professional sport. It is not possible to be at 100% all the time. Part of training is resting and sometimes one is needed. How much money they earn is irrelevant. For those people who say get a normal job, i am sure normal jobs get offered holidays

  • Comment posted by cruyff74, at 11:16 20 Mar 2013

    To those of you so obviously envious of Miss Watson's lifestyle and earnings, the solution is very simple: get yourself into the world's top 50, then you too can reap the rewards without any need for bitterness or jealousy. Easy, isn't it?

  • Comment posted by pennychange, at 14:34 20 Mar 2013

    Absolutely right thing to do. A string of agonisingly close losses from winnable positions are clear indication you need to reset your head. Obviously she CAN hack it at this level or she wouldn't be getting into winning positions, concentration/ finishing needs the work and that's between the ears. A few weeks to refocus & SERIOUS work on serve would help. Its vulnerable as she can't rely on it.

  • Comment posted by rememberscarborough, at 12:35 20 Mar 2013

    I doubt anyone on here has the mental strength to be a professional sportsperson let alone the ability. However, it does look like Ms Watson is going to be joining the rest of us mere mortals if she's burnt out have spent less than twelve months in the top 100. Depressing....

  • Comment posted by nibs, at 11:49 20 Mar 2013

    Everyone on here had been predicting how her (and Robson) would be in the top 10 before too long.

    Now the R5 "analyst" claims this shows us not that she's actually not that great but how tough the tour is!

    Your (and the media's) predictions are in fact disrespectful to all the other athletes with ability & potential similar or superior to theirs.

    .

  • Comment posted by oohareya, at 13:11 20 Mar 2013

    @41. Easy on the hyperbole, "ashamed?!". Ridiculous.

    It does, however, seem an odd decision. Still, if that is what she feels is best and has received good advice it may do her good in the long run. It must be pretty isolating at times as a professional tennis player trying to make it,

  • Comment posted by bon0bobananas, at 10:06 20 Mar 2013

    I think this just highlights her need for better management. I can't imagine Murray needing time out coming into the season, the time for rest was 2 months ago.

    New coach/training team anyone?

  • Comment posted by Balearic Beats, at 11:04 20 Mar 2013

    A good way to help prevent injuries, keep going Heather!

  • Comment posted by User0301188528, at 10:08 20 Mar 2013

    I could understand if she was getting to finals every week but how can she be suffering from burn out if she keeps getting knocked out in the first round? She's supposed to be a professional sportswoman for heavens sake.

  • Comment posted by TigerRobin, at 09:57 20 Mar 2013

    might take a rest from my job as well, oh wait I cant as I need to provide for myself, my family and further my career. If she cant take the pressure at this point in her career is she ever going to be able to.

    I'm sorry but all taking a break shows is that she lacks the mental strength to achieve at the highest level.

  • Comment posted by User0149954454, at 18:24 20 Mar 2013

    Typical british sports reaction, become the no 1, then moan when she doesn't have the abilty to win simple matches

    Grow up Heather, and earn the respect you should be getting, instead of probably becoming just another moaner

  • Comment posted by Gibbs is my Dad, at 10:01 20 Mar 2013

    Ah bless. Should try getting a proper job and running a family. It's quite pathetic really.

  • Comment posted by Dom, at 14:21 20 Mar 2013

    There's top players playing every other day getting to the semi/final of most tournaments and she's whining about having to play once or twice in each tournament? Think this shows she'll never have what it takes to succeed in this sport, I don't hear Serena Williams or Djokovic complaining about anything like this.

  • Comment posted by User0306473230, at 12:57 20 Mar 2013

    Astonishing comment from Watson. Burnt out?? She should take a long hard look at herself and see how privelaged she is compared to the majority of the population. How we would all love to be taken all over the world, playing a few sets of tennis, and geting payed a fortune.

  • Comment posted by User0766887094, at 10:08 20 Mar 2013

    Ridiculous. What good is a 'rest' going to do? she'll just come back and platy at this same level.

    If she can't take the grind of the professional tour maybe she should get another job. The women are overpaid enough as it is for their poor quality tennis, she sdhould be more grateful.

  • Comment posted by User0156821778, at 12:27 20 Mar 2013

    Burnt Out - she hasn't played enough tennis in the past 6 month to be burnt out, certainly not earning any real money, not aware she has a major sponsor, why I wonder!!!

    I am sure she will not be in the top 70 within the next 12 months.

  • Comment posted by User0199590045, at 17:53 20 Mar 2013

    No disrespect but this is a joke. The girl hardly has a difficult job. Try putting your life in danger every day as a police man or fire fighter. Travelling the world playing a game you love and being paid well for it is not stress. It would be nice to be able to take a few months off when stressed by our jobs ( and have enough cash to do this). Wake up little girl and join the real world.

  • Comment posted by User0894053546, at 12:03 20 Mar 2013

    31.Connor Sammons Prolific Twin
    Just now
    It's incredible the amount of people telling her to 'get a job' and join the real world.

    It rather begs the question; what are these keyboard warriors doing at 11.00am on a Wednesday morning? They cannot possibly be doing work, or they'd be 'rushed off their feet!'

    Talking of question begging, does that include you mate?

  • Comment posted by Patrick Bateman, at 13:24 20 Mar 2013

    Heather, during your 'time out' from the game, why not visit your local hospital ward and go speak to a child with terminal cancer, or a soldier who has had a limb blown off, and tell them you are too tired to play tennis?

Top Stories