Heather Watson unleashes the secret of tackling a contest against a best friend – Tennis News
World number 49, Heather Watson, has just contested one battle against her best friend, Laura Robson, in her career to date but reveals the method of tackling the situation when some friend is standing on the other side of the court.
Watson commented, “When you play your friend, you just have to shut that off. I think that’s quite simple for most professional players as this is our job. Everybody’s out there to win and we’ve all got the same goal, and no one is going to give up a match
just because it’s your friend on the other side of the net. That’s the competitive spirit we all have. It is tough when you’re younger as you think, ‘oh, but she’s my friend’, but as you get older you mature and you understand that you have to do this.”
She further added that there is no point taking things slowly because no one is out there to make friends at a professional tour. She stated that the information known to their best friends can back fire when they are standing against them in a contest but
they are also aware of the fact that they there loopholes will be exploited as well.
So, the conscious display with a mixture of shots can always help the player to dismantle the confidence of their best friend. It is always good to frustrate your opponent at the start because it creates opening that can be exploited.
The only time the two friends came head-to-head was in the Barnstaple Challenger event at their home soil in October, last year. It was the 18-year-old Robson who stunned the second seed Watson in an enthralling three-setter. The teenager clinched the opening
set before dropping the second. Stage was set for a thrilling final set but the quick breakpoint to the Briton ended the encounter earlier than expected. The final scores were 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
Both athletes registered a successful season with Watson capturing her first Women Tennis Association title at her last tour of the year in Osaka. She is ranked just four spots above her compatriot who happens to be her best friend and the doubles partner
as well.
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