GB RANKING5
WORLD RANKING149
CAREER HIGH
19/01/2015 38
WTA TITLES8
ITF TITLES12
BILLIE JEAN KING CUP TIES36
Last updated: 03/12/2024
GB RANKING2
WORLD RANKING59
CAREER HIGH
25/02/2019 39
WTA TITLES8
ITF TITLES12
BILLIE JEAN KING CUP TIES 36
Last updated: 03/12/2024
FAVOURITE
SURFACE: Hard court
SHOT: Cross-court forehand
COACH
Diego Veronelli
AGE32
HEIGHT170 cm
PLAYSRight-handed
BACKHANDTwo-handed
LTA SUPPORT NTC Pro Access
TURNED PRO2010
FAVOURITE
SURFACE:Hard court
SHOT:Cross-court forehand
COACH
Diego Veronelli
Get to know Heather Watson
About
Heather Watson has been in and around the WTA top 50 for many years. A Billie Jean King Cup stalwart, Watson has also represented Team GB at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. Watson is also a Wimbledon mixed doubles champion, having won the title in 2016
Watson is currently supported by our NTC Pro Access Programme.
Quick-fire facts
- Place of birth: Guernsey
- Lives: London
- Trains: Bolletieri Academy, Florida
- Likes: Fashion, shopping, meeting up with family and friends for a good walk along the beach
- Family: Mum is Michelle, dad is Ian, brother is Adam and sisters are Stephanie and Julie
Tennis Career
Highlights
- Finished runner-up to Sonay Kartal at the Lexus W100 Shrewsbury after being forced to withdraw in the second set due to injury
- Won her first title of the season at the W50 Nottingham - beating Manon Leonard 6-3, 6-0 in the final
- Selected to represent Great Britain at the Billie Jean King Cup qualifying tie against France in April
- Finished runner-up at the W50 Roehampton, having lost out to Lulu Sun 7-5, 7-5 in the final
Results
Tournament | Round |
November | |
Billie Jean King Cup | Semi-final |
October | |
Hong Kong Open | First round |
Lexus W100 Shrewsbury | Runner-up |
September | |
Hana Bank Korea Open | Second round |
US Open | Qualifying round two |
August | |
W100 Cary | Second round |
July | |
W50 Nottingham | Champion |
Wimbledon | First round |
June | |
Rothesay Classic Birmingham | First round |
Rothesay Open Nottingham | Second round |
May | |
Roland Garros | Qualifying R1 |
Trophee Clarins | First round |
February | |
W50 Roehampton | Runner-up |
Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open | Second round |
January | |
Australian Open | Qualifying - First round |
Brisbane International | Qualifying - First round |
Highlights
- Selected to represent Great Britain at the Billie Jean King Cup qualifying tie against France in April
- Women's doubles runner-up at the WTA 500 event in Abu Dhabi alongisde Linda Noskova. The pair missed out to Sofia Kenin and Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-4, 7-6(4) in the final
- Women's doubles runner-up at the WTA 500 event in Brisbane with Greet Minnen but lost Jelena Ostapenko and Lyudmyla Kichenok in the final 7-5, 6-2
Results
Tournament | Round |
November | |
Billie Jean King Cup | Semi-final |
September | |
Hana Bank Korea Open (with Bethanie Mattek-Sands) | First round |
US Open (with Asia Muhhamad) | Third round |
August | |
Olympics (with Katie Boulter) | Quarter-final |
July | |
Wimbledon (with Greet Minnen) | First round |
June | |
Rothesay Classic Birmingham (with Greet Minnen) | Quarter-final |
Rothesay Open Nottingham (with Ena Shibahara) | Quarter-final |
Roland Garros (with Joe Salisbury) | Second round |
May | |
Roland Garros (with Katie Boulter) | First round |
Italian Open (with Yifan Xu) | First round |
Mutua Madrid Open (with Yifan Xu) | Second round |
April | |
Credit One Charleston Open (with Olivia Nicholls) | Quarter-final |
March | |
Miami Open (with Tereza Mihalikova) | First round |
Fifth Third Charleston 125 (with Harriet Dart) | Quarter-final |
February | |
Mubdala Abu Dhabi Open (with Linda Noskova) | Runners-up |
January | |
Australian Open (with Lucia Bronzetti) | First round |
Brisbane International (with Greet Minnen) | Runner-up |
December
Continuing her excellent run of form, Watson headed to the W100 event in Dubai where she reached the semi-finals of the singles draw before finishing runner-up in the doubles event alongside Olivia Nicholls. The pair endured a close battle with Timea Babos and Vera Zvonareva, just losing out 6-1, 2-6, 10-7.
This run led Watson to finish the year as doubles British No.1.
November
Watson then went on to compete at the WTA 125 Creand Adorra Open where she reached the semi-finals of the singles event - bowing out to Erika Andreeva, 6-7(6), 7-5, 6-0 - and finishing runner-up in the doubles event alongside Timea Babos.
October
Competing alongside Olivia Gadecki, Watson went on to take the doubles crown at W40 Quinta do Lago dou, after the British, Australian duo defeated Francisca Jorge and Matilde Jorge 6-4, 6-1 in the final.
Continuing her solid form in the doubles game, Watson then teamed up with Sabrina Santamaria for the Abierto Tampico event, where the British, American duo finished runners-up.
Watson was selected to represent Great Britain for their Billie Jean King Cup Play-Off tie against Sweden in November.
August
Watson and doubles partner Anna Danilina, were knocked out in the second round of the US Open by 15th seed Miyo Kato and Aldila Sutjiadi 6-3, 6-1.
July
Watson bowed out of the opening round of The Championships, Wimbledon after suffering a 6-2, 7-5 defeat to the world No.11 Barbora Krejcikova.
However, teaming up with Harriet Dart in the doubles, the British duo knocked out seventh seeds Jelena Ostapenko & Lyudmyla Kichenok 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, before losing out to Tereza Mihalikova and Viktoria Hruncakova.
Watson then moved on to the mixed doubles where she competed alongside Joe Salisbury. The pair sprinted to a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Nathaniel Lammons and Guiliana Olmos before they lost out to Latisha Chan and Ivan Dodig 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(5) in the second round.
Watson then teamed up with Yanina Wickmayer for the doubles event at the Warsaw Open where the pair lifted their first doubles title together. Facing home favourites Weronika Falkowska and Katarzyna Piter, the British, Belgian duo raced to a 6-4, 6-4 victory to take the crown and mark Watson's first WTA-level title since 2019.
June
Watson made the semi-finals in the Rothesay Open Nottingham singles for the first time in her career - narrowly losing out to Katie Boulter in the final four. She became the first qualifier to reach the semi-final.
She joined forces with Harriet Dart to finish runner-up in the doubles to Ulrikke Eikeri and Ingrid Neel 7-6(6), 5-7, 10-8.
April
Watson was selected to represent Great Britain in their Billie Jean King Cup qualifying tie against France at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
From there, the Brit marched into the W40+H Calvi event. After overcoming three back-to-back three set matches, Watson went on to face Lucrezia Stefanini in the final but was just pipped to the title in a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 defeat.
February
Watson enjoyed a lengthy run at the Thailand Open, where she made it to the quarter-final. Here, she faced Wang Xinyu in a three-set battle which saw the Brit bow out of the tournament in a 6-3, 7(6)-6, 6-4 loss.
Watson then went on to make it to her first final of the year at the W25 Glasgow event, where she faced Belgium's Marie Benoit. Unfortunately, Watson just missed out on the title in a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 defeat.
January
Watson began her year by reaching the quarter-final of the W60 Canberra event. Here, she faced fellow Brit Katie Boulter and lost out 6-1, 6-3.
Watson lost out in the first round of the Australian Open qualifiers against Aliona Bolsova 7(4)-6, 6-3. She also competed in the main draw of the doubles draw alongside American Danielle Collins but bowed out in the first round.
November
Selected to represent Great Britain at the Billie Jean King Cup on home soil, Watson played a key part in the home nation’s 3-0 victory over Spain after outfoxing Nuria Parrizas-Diaz 6-0, 6-2 to qualify for the semi-finals for the first time since 1981. Hoping to carry the momentum over to her semi-final tie against Australia's Storm Sanders, Watson left it all on the court but unfortuntately lost out 6-4, 7-6 (3).
October
Watson reached the quarter-finals of the Jasmin Open doubles with Harriet Dart and was recently selected to represent Great Britain at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Glasgow.
Watson finished runner-up in her first ITF final of the season after losing out to compatriot Lily Miyazaki in three sets at the W60 Glasgow event.
August
Watson reached the final round of qualifiers at the US Open but lost out to Sara Bejlek 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.
July
Watson reached a career-best at Wimbledon after reaching the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time. The 30-year-old knocked out the likes of Tamara Korpatsch, Wang Qiang and Kaja Juvan - who ousted this year’s Nottingham and Birmingham champion Beatriz Haddad Maia. Watson also reached the third round of the doubles alongside fellow Brit, Harriet Dart.
June
Watson breezed past Katie Volynets at the Rothesay Open Nottingham, but battling with an injury, lost 7-5, 6-2 to Viktorija Golubic.
March
Watson's season continued in Mexio at the Monterrey Open, where she reached the second round of the singles - losing to sixth seed Nuria Parrizas-Diaz - and the quarter-finals of the doubles with Mayar Sheriff.
After fighting her way through qualifying at Indian Wells, Watson came up short against Czech star, Tereza Martincova - losing 6-2, 6-1 to the World No.42.
Watson produced an upset after defeating former world No.3, Elina Svitolina, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) in the second round of the Miami Open. Through to the third round in Miami for the first time since 2016, Watson lost to world No.28, Belinda Bencic 6-4, 6-1.
January
For the second time in the same month Watson faced Zidansek, this time at Melbourne Park, in the second round of the Australian Open where she lost out in straight sets 7-6(4), 6-4.
Kick started her year in Abu Dhabi with a win over fellow brit Jodie Burrage. Reached second round at the Australian Open where she lost in three sets to 21st seed Kontavent. In April led the British Billie Jean King Cup team to success over Mexico. In May she lost her first round match at Roland Garros. In the build-up to Wimbledon reached the semi-finals of the Viking Classic Birmingham, and took World No.9 Iga Swiatek deep into a three-set match in Eastbourne.
In July, Heather became a three-time Olympian, representing Team GB in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Reached the semi-final of the Hobart International, and lost in the second round to Elise Mertens at the Australian Open. Won one and lost one match in Great Britain’s defeat to Slovakia in the Fed Cup Qualifiers in Bratislava in February. Won the WTA International in Acapulco in late February, beating Leylah Fernandez in three sets in the final – a victory which saw her to return to the WTA Top 50 for the first time in four years. Made early exits in the U.S. Open and French Open but finished the season strongly by winning the Battle of the Brits Premier League of Tennis.
Won the ITF £60k in Fukuoka, Japan in May, beating Zarina Dyas in the final. Also won the doubles title in Fukuoka with Naomi Broady. Reached the singles quarter final and doubles final at the Surbiton Trophy. Lost in the first round in Nottingham and Birmingham.
Doubles win with Tatjana Maria in Acapulco, reached R2 at French Open, progressed to doubles QFs of Nature Valley Classic with Katie Boulter.
Runner-up with Henri Kontinen at Wimbledon defending their 2016 title. In singles, finished season at no.74, in the Top 100 for the sixth time. SF at Eastbourne, QF at Monterrey and Luxembourg, R3 Wimbledon, R2 Australia, R1 US Open.
- Winning Wimbledon Championships with doubles partner Henri Kontinen in 2016.
- Matching Sue Barker's record for most wins for Great Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup (31), to enter the top 5.
Women's singles:
- Australian Open: Third round (2013)
- Roland Garros: Second round (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018)
- Wimbledon: Fourth round (2022)
- US Open: First round (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021)
Women's doubles:
- Australian Open: Third round (2021)
- Roland Garros: Second round (2018, 2022)
- Wimbledon: Quarter-final (2018)
- US Open: Second round (2016, 2023)
Mixed doubles:
- Australian Open: N/A
- Roland Garros: First round (2013)
- Wimbledon: Champion (2016) with Henri Kontinen
- US Open: First round (2017)
- Started playing aged 7 and moved to Bolletieri Academy aged 12.
- Won the Junior US Open in 2009 and gold at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games.
- Reached No.3 in the world on the ITF Junior Circuit.
What has Heather Watson won?
Heather's won nine titles, including the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon in 2016 which made her the first British woman to win a Grand Slam title in 15 years. She paired with Finland's Henri Kontinen to defeat Robert Farah (COL) and Anna-Lena Groenfeld (GER) in the final 7-6 6-4.
Who is Heather Watson's coach?
Alex Ward is coach of Heather Watson.
When did Heather Watson start playing tennis?
Heather was seven when she began playing tennis. Aged 12 she then moved to the famous Nick Bolletieri Tennis Academy – now the IMG Academy – in Florida.
Has Heather Watson played for Great Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup?
Heather's represented Great Britain in 33 Billie Jean King Cup ties. She made her debut in 2011 against Switzerland, where she defeated Timea Bacsinszky in the first match of the tie 6-1 6-3.
When did Heather Watson win her first title?
Heather's first WTA singles title came at Osaka in 2012, beating Kai-Chen Chang (TPE) in the final 7-5 5-7 7-6. She won her first ITF singles title at Frinton in 2009 against fellow-Brit Anna Fitzpatrick 4-6 6-4 6-2.