Heather Watson proves fitness in qualifying for Wuhan Open

24 September 2016 12:23

Heather Watson put any lingering concerns about her health to bed as she won two qualifying matches on Saturday to book her place in the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open in China.

Watson was last seen exiting the US Open in the first round in worrying circumstances as she was running on empty in a straight sets defeat to Richel Hogenkamp and needed medical treatment.

In the aftermath of that harrowing afternoon at Flushing Meadows, the British number two feared she may have suffered a relapse of glandular fever, which stalled her earlier in her career, after saying the symptoms were similar.

However, blood tests came back clear and Watson proved beyond doubt that she is 100 per cent as in sweltering conditions in central China, she first beat Chang Liu in three nervy sets before coming back to get past American Samantha Crawford in commanding fashion.

This is the 24-year-old's first tournament since New York and she insists she is feeling in top shape.

"I got the blood test results and they are all fine, I am very healthy," she told Press Association Sport. "I just think it was a mixture of things, maybe stress and anxiety and the heat is always a factor.

"But I feel as if I am fit, I train in Florida, so I was fit and ready, I think it was just the other things that affected me.

"I know I am fit, I spoke to one of my friends before I went on court and he told me I would be fine because I train twice a day. I know I can do it.

"I haven't had a lot of singles matches, just with the way things have worked out so I haven't played as much as I would have liked matchwise.

"I am really pleased to have got through especially as I had to play twice, I did that earlier in the year at Hobart and I remember getting frustrated because I was tired and my opponent hadn't played at all and today I made sure I didn't make the same mistake."

There were more lessons Watson learned from as after winning the first set comfortably against Liu she then capitulated, allowing herself to be bagelled before eventually edging a tight deciding set and coming out a 6-1 0-6 6-4 victor.

She was in no mood to make the same mistake against Crawford as after taking the first-set tie-break she then won 18 of the next 19 points to saunter into a 4-0 lead in the second set, eventually seeing out a 7-6 (7/3) 6-2 success.

"I felt in cruise control at that point," she added. "I lost the momentum in the first match and lost my way in the second set and I was determined that I wasn't going to do that again. I am also pleased because I don't feel as if I played my best and to win when you're not doing that is a good confidence boost."

She will face training partner Madison Brengle in the first round of the main draw where she is joined by fellow Brit Johanna Konta, who plays Annika Beck, with both women in action on Monday.

Source: PA