Watson handed Olympic singles spot

 

Originally published on: 25/07/12 00:00

Weeks after reaching the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time at Wimbledon, Heather Watson has been handed a second chance to impress in the singles draw at the All England Club.

The 20-year-old Brit will compete in the women’s singles competition at the Olympics following the withdrawal of Ukraine’s Alona Bondarenko with injury.

“I got told the news on the court at the end of my training session at Wimbledon today,” said Watson on Tuesday. “I’m so pleased, I was jumping up and down with excitement when I found out.”

Watson, who beat world No.55 Iveta Benesova and No.100 Jamie Hampton on her last outing at the All England Club, joins fellow Team GB players Anne Keothavong and Elena Baltacha in the women’s singles. She will also partner 18-year-old Laura Robson in the doubles competition – an event she will approach with added confidence after winning her maiden WTA doubles title in Stanford alongside New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic earlier this month.

“I’m really looking forward to competing for Great Britain in the Olympics and I’ll be giving it my best shot in both the singles and the doubles competitions,” Watson added.

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