Australian Open LIVE: Heather Watson knows the importance of switching off but
the British number two finds even a “Spiderman” movie cannot banish tennis from her mind for long, the 29-year-old said after winning her first round match at the Australian Open on Tuesday.
The British number two prevailed in a three-setter against Egypt’s Mayar Sherif to move into the second round of the year’s first Grand Slam.
She has not progressed beyond the third round at Melbourne but instead of dwelling on her prospects this year, Watson said she was restricting her focus to her next battle against Tamara Zidansek of Slovenia.
Australian Open LIVE: Even ‘Spiderman’ can’t help Heather Watson switch off in Melbourne
“I’m not looking too far ahead, just making sure I take care of the little things and stay in my routines, sleep well, ice bath, and just switch off,” she said in a news conference.
“I actually went to the cinema yesterday to watch the Spiderman movie and halfway through it I caught myself thinking, ‘Oh, I haven’t thought about tennis’, and then I had to stop myself from thinking about it again.
“Just doing those little things really helps because, I mean, every player here can play great tennis. Everyone’s fit, everyone can hit a great ball on their day.”
Compatriot and former world number four Johanna Konta retired at 30 last month but Watson said she had rediscovered her love for the game and competition.
“Right now I’m loving it and I know that maybe in a month or in a few weeks maybe I won’t enjoy it so much because I’ll have a hard loss,” she said.
“I have that experience to know that it comes and goes, so you’ve just got to ride the wave and I’m riding my positive wave right now.
Australian Open LIVE: Even ‘Spiderman’ can’t help Heather Watson switch off in Melbourne
“I was sad to see her (Konta) go, especially because I think she’s so young still and she’s such a great player, but it’s whatever makes you happy in life and it was her time.”
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