Rothesay Open Nottingham 2023: Heather Watson & George Loffhagen to make quarter-final debuts
• 3 MINUTE READ
Heather Watson and George Loffhagen continue to go from strength to strength at the Rothesay Open Nottingham – booking themselves a place in their first career quarter-final at the Nottingham Tennis Centre.
Watson raised her level once again today as she knocked out 2022 Wimbledon semi-finalist Tatjana Maria 6-4, 6-4.
"It was so fun to play here today,” said Watson in her post-match interview. “I love playing here in Nottingham, especially this year when the weather is so great.
"I came through qualifying and I feel like each match I'm getting better, but I feel like there is more to come. I really look forward to the next match."
Buy tickets to the Rothesay Open Nottingham
Today was Watson’s fourth win already at the Rothesay Open Nottingham – having come through qualifiers with strong wins against Sophie Chang and Amelia Rajecki, before avenging her fourth round Wimbledon loss against Jule Niemeier, with a 6-4, 6-3 victory.
The 31-year-old Brit is still yet to lose a set across all her matches at the Rothesay Open Nottingham this year.
Her next opponent will be a familiar face to her here in Nottingham – Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic.
Watson and Golubic have faced each other twice, with one win apiece. Their most recent match came at last year’s Rothesay Open Nottingham where Golubic won 7-5, 6-2.
Then up stepped Loffhagen in the last match of the day on Court 1 – where he became the first British player into the men’s quarter-final.
Having only won his first Challenger match the day before, the 22-year-old beat rising star Juncheng Shang 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 to book a meeting with fifth seed Dominic Koepfer in the final eight.
“Really happy to get another win today,” said the young Brit. “It was a good first set again with a break at the end to win and then had chances in the second but played a poor game at five each. Tried to regroup in the third and I was playing more aggressive in the middle of the set, which helped and managed to close it out.
"There were definitely more people out their today on court with the stands and they really helped push me over the line.
"Hopefully I can (compete at Grand Slam level) but we’ll see – hopefully anyway."
Tomorrow will see three more British women contend for a spot in the final eight with Katie Boulter, Jodie Burrage and Harriet Dart all in action on Centre Court.
Boulter opens the action against lucky loser Daria Snigur, who knocked out the second seed and reigining champion Beatriz Haddad Maia in the opening round.
Dart faces fifth seed Anhelina Kalinina before Boulter takes on third seed Magda Linette.
Andy Murray will also be bidding to reaching the quarter-finals against Hugo Grenier, as will Ryan Peniston facing off against Dominic Stricker.
Title Partner
Official Partners
Official Supporters
