Heather Watson Eyes Olympic Glory in Paris

 

Heather Watson Eyes Olympic Glory in Paris

Paris, France – Heather Watson is setting her sights on winning her first Olympic medal as she prepares to compete in her fourth Games for Team GB. The 32-year-old from Guernsey will partner with Katie Boulter in the women's doubles and Joe Salisbury in the mixed doubles, determined to make her mark on the Olympic stage.

Watson's best Olympic performance to date came at the 2016 Rio Games, where she and Andy Murray reached the quarter-finals of the mixed doubles. As she gears up for Paris 2024, Watson is focusing on making the most of every moment while targeting a podium finish.

"My aim is to just enjoy every moment and embrace the total experience, but this Games I really feel I'm going to focus on trying my best to get a medal," Watson told BBC Radio Guernsey. "I feel like I've got a good chance, being in the doubles and the mixed doubles."

Watson and Boulter will start their women's doubles campaign against Germany's Angelique Kerber and Laura Siegemund. In the mixed doubles, Watson and Salisbury will face Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski and Felix Auger-Aliassime in their opener. Watson expressed confidence in her partnership with Salisbury, with whom she has been playing for the past year.

"I've been playing with Joe in the mixed doubles this last 12 months and we're a great team, so I really back us and I hope we can finish this Olympics on even more of a high," she added.

While Watson's best Grand Slam singles performance was reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2022, her greatest successes have come in doubles. She won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title in 2016 with Finland's Henri Kontinen and reached the final again with Kontinen the following year.

Currently ranked 141st in the WTA singles rankings, Watson has been focusing on her Olympic ambitions for the past year. "It was the biggest goal for me this last 12 months to make another Olympic Games," she said. "I'm at the back end of my career now so I think I just appreciate moments like this even more."

Watson is determined to give her all in Paris, driven by the prospect of winning a medal. "I'm here to win. I'd do anything to get a medal, so I'm looking forward to getting out on that court and giving it my absolute best effort."

As the Olympics draw nearer, Heather Watson remains resolute in her mission to secure a place on the podium, embodying the spirit and determination of Team GB.

Key Facts:

• Event: Paris 2024 Olympics
• Competitions: Women's Doubles, Mixed Doubles
• Partners: Katie Boulter (women's doubles), Joe Salisbury (mixed doubles)
• Previous Best: Quarter-finals in mixed doubles at Rio 2016 with Andy Murray
• Notable Achievements: Wimbledon mixed doubles champion in 2016 with Henri Kontinen

With her focus firmly set on Olympic success, Watson's journey in Paris promises to be an exciting chapter in her distinguished career.