Heather Watson maintains an unblemished record at the Hobart International
Heather Watson has kept her unblemished main draw record at the Hobart International intact.
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FORMER champion Heather Watson has kept her unblemished main draw record at the Hobart International intact after reaching the field of 32 for the fifth time in five visits to the state.
The Brit, who won the 2015 title and also has semi-final (2018) and quarter-final (2016) appearances to her name at the event, dispatched Australian Isabelle Wallace in the second round of qualifying.
The 6-4, 6-4 straight sets victory is the third time she has moved through qualifying, following on from last year and her maiden appearance in Hobart in 2012.
After admitting to a nervous display yesterday when she defeated another Aussie in Naiktha Bains, Watson was more pleased with her effort this morning but feels there is still plenty of room to improve.
“Very happy to get through my match today, it was very tough to stay focused throughout, but I thought it was better than yesterday but still a way to go and I am starting to get there,” she said.
Watson, who achieved a career-high ranking of 38 shortly after her triumph in Hobart four years ago, now sits at No. 91 in the world following a tough 2018.
And although that ranking could drop ahead of the upcoming Australian Open if she fails to defend her points from 12 months ago, the 26-year-old declared she is starting the new season with a clean slate.
“I sort of start the new year with a clean slate and I am more focused on the race than I am on defending points.
“I feel it doesn’t really help, it puts too much pressure on you. Yeah I have it in the back of my mind, it is hard to ignore it, but I am trying to focus on just starting fresh and everything I get now is a bonus.”
While Watson is no stranger in the main field in Hobart, Australian veteran Alison Bai will make her WTA main draw debut.
Bai’s last minute decision to enter qualifying after crashing out of a $25,000 event in Adelaide last week has paid remarkable dividends, with the 28-year-old backing up her first ever WTA-level victory yesterday to defeat fellow Australian Olivia Rogowska in three sets.
“It is a little bit surreal to be honest … it hasn’t really quite hit me yet for the fact I qualified for a WTA event, especially an international event as well, I am a bit blown away,” Bai said after her 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 win.
“I knew coming into it there was a lot on the line, obviously playing another Australian there was a massive opportunity there.”
The last Australian left in qualifying, 20-year-old Kaylah McPhee, will look to join Bai when she takes to centre court shortly.
“It was like an out-of-body experience”
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