06 March 2020

Heather Watson admits she nearly quit the sport during four year drought without WTA title

British tennis player Heather Watson has revealed she nearly gave up the sport during the lowest point of her career.

The 27 year-old ended a four year wait for a WTA title by clinching the Mexican Open last month.

But Watson says she could very well have packed tennis in altogether prior to her recent upturn in form.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, she said: "I thought I wasn't doing good enough, nor getting the satisfaction or results, so why continue to suffer through it?

"I was pretty low. I was thinking of stopping tennis. You have those thoughts and I wasn't serious about it."

Now the Guernsey player is in a different state of mind having tasted success once more.

She holds a host of different aims for the rest of the year, but making it to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics is at the forefront of that list.

"I am loving life right now," she added. "I felt like I had nothing to lose going into the tournament. On and off the court I felt good, I was in a really calm state of mind.

"I was going into the competition just enjoying it, being healthy - and as the tournament went on I thought: 'Oh this is nice'.

"I have been very open that my number one goal is to be in the Olympics again. My goal every year is to win WTA titles. I have one now, so the goal is to get another one and I want to make it into at least the fourth round of a Grand Slam."

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