Latest news with #HeatherWatson
BBC News
8 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
I had first death threat at 18 - Watson on social media abuse
British tennis player Heather Watson says she has received social media abuse "daily" during her career and had her first death threat aged was speaking after compatriot Katie Boulter told BBC Sport about the scale of unsavoury and hurtful comments she has received online, including death Sir Andy Murray has said he is trying to keep his children away from social media and backed calls for more action to prevent abuse of sport stars."My first death threat was at 18," Watson told BBC Sport. "I told my friend [American tennis player] Sloane Stephens at the time. "The thing that shocked me the most, but also kind of made me feel better - because I told her I was scared as this person told me he was watching me and was going to kill me - was that she said 'girl, don't worry, I get these all the time'."I'm smiling now after so many years and such a long career. I receive abuse daily, but it is all in perspective. "It is all just sad people who have nothing better going in their lives than to sit behind their computer or phone and write that."I don't think anyone in their right mind would abuse someone online they have never met. It just goes over my head, it is just madness."Watson is preparing for Wimbledon and will face Danish 23rd seed Clara Tauson in the first round of the singles draw, having been handed a wildcard. She won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title in 2016 with Finland's Henri Kontinen and the pair again reached the final 12 months later. 'Abuse is the norm' Speaking to BBC Sport earlier this month Boulter said that receiving abusive content and death threats has become "the norm" for athletes and that "it becomes more apparent every single time you go on your phone".Murray, who retired from professional tennis in August 2024, said the prevalence of social media abuse "hasn't really changed", despite athletes speaking out on the subject for many Boulter's comments, fellow tennis players demanded more action, including calls for the introduction of identity verification on social of the England women's football team also plan to give up social media for their forthcoming European Championship defence in Minister Sir Keir Starmer told the BBC that the government will explore whether further protective measures can be put in place on social media platforms.
New York Times
18-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Wimbledon wild cards: Two-time champion Petra Kvitova joined by British players
Two-time champion Petra Kvitová is the only non-British player awarded a main-draw wild card for this year's Wimbledon. Wild cards are awarded to players who are not ranked high enough for automatic entry, and Kvitová, the 2011 and 2014 champion, is currently ranked No. 572 after returning to the WTA Tour this year following the birth of her first child. Advertisement All the other singles wild cards in the men's and women's draws have gone to home players. Youngsters Hannah Klugman, Mingge Xu and Mika Stojsavljevic are the standout choices on the women's side: Klugman reached the junior Roland Garros final earlier this month, while the big-serving Stojsavljevic won the girls' singles title at last year's U.S. Open. Xu, who is a year older than both at 17, beat American world No. 96 Katie Volynets at the Nottingham Open Tuesday, to record her first WTA Tour victory. Heather Watson, who a decade ago came within two points of defeating Serena Williams in the third round, is another recipient. On the men's side, there is still one wild card to be awarded, but the seven so far include former world No. 21 Dan Evans, American college graduates Jack Pinnington Jones and Johannus Monday, and 19-year-old former junior champion Henry Searle. Unlike the other Grand Slams, Wimbledon does not engage in reciprocal wild cards with its fellow majors. But as is tradition, the most recent junior champions, Nicolai Budkov Kjær of Norway, and Slovakia's Renáta Jamrichová, have been given wild cards for the men's and women's qualifying draws. There will also be a couple of qualifying spots in each draw for the winners of the Wimbledon wild card play-off, which is open to British players and takes place Thurs. June 19 and Fri. June 20. Wimbledon qualifying starts on Monday June 23, with the main draw getting under away a week later on Monday June 30. Goran Ivanišević, the 2001 champion, is the sole wild card to have ever won a singles title.
Scottish Sun
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Former Wimbledon champion reveals she's been cycling to Queen's on LIME BIKE after her car was stolen
HEATHER WATSON has been using an electric Lime bike to travel to a new tennis event in south-west London – after being driven mad by a stolen car saga. A first WTA tournament at Queen's Club in Baron's Court since 1973 works well for Watson because it is only a 10-minute cycle ride from her flat. 4 Heather Watson revealed she had her car nicked Credit: Getty 4 She won the mixed doubles at Wimbledon back in 2016 Credit: Simon Jones - The Sun 4 She has been riding a Lime Bike to Queen's this year Credit: PA 4 The tournament is a ten-minute cycle from her home Credit: Getty While some of her rivals will jump in official cars to and from the venue, the British No.7 prefers two wheels instead, a much greener mode of transportation. Her preference are the green-and-white Lime bikes, which can reach a top speed of 15mph and are easily accessible for anyone living in the capital. Watson – who won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title with Finn Henri Kontinen in 2016 – had her car stolen in the summer of 2023. The Guernsey-born ace's Range Rover was nicked from an underground car park at her West London home on the night she belatedly celebrated her 31st birthday with friends. READ MORE ON TENNIS EMMA WORRY Raducanu gets treatment for back injury in worrying scenes days before Wimbledon It happened in the week before the grass-court season started and at the time, she said she was pulling her hair out dealing with a time-consuming insurance company. A tracking company told her the vehicle was gone and though it was eventually found by police – and taken to a Charlton car pound – her problems only started when it came to the 'ball-ache' of dealing with the insurance detail. On Thursday afternoon, qualifier Watson was on her bike out of the premises as she lost 6-4 6-2 to former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina. After that defeat, she revealed to the media why she was shunning cars, saying: '(Bikes) are my means of transport. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 'Since my car was stolen, and it's just been the bane of my life, I'm in the process of selling it. 'Still such a pain. Don't get a car. That's my advice. I'm a Lime biker through and through. 'It'll be the first time seeing him' - Olympic star Heather Watson reveals plans to watch Scottish footie hero boyfriend 'Rain or shine, I'm on my bike, that's how I get to the NTC (National Tennis Centre) every day. 'That's how I got home yesterday from the site because it takes ten minutes. 'I love cycling, and I feel like it's kind of a type of meditation for me, as well. 'I just really enjoy being out in the fresh air cycling. It's a great warmup, about 20 minutes from where I live to the NTC, so it's perfect for me. 'I won't be getting another car. I'm a cyclist. They used to drive me crazy, but now I'm one of them, and I have a different perspective. 'How was my car stolen? Oh, I won't bore you, but a couple years ago it got stolen. 'And it's just been breaking down ever since. Insurance? Biggest scam ever. They just try and rinse you. 'Yeah, disaster. I get discriminated against because I'm an athlete. So your prices are already….forget the cars. Not forever, but for now.' Watson is not the only sports star to be benefiting from Lime Bikes recently. The England Test team took up the mode of transport ahead of the match against the West Indies.
The Irish Sun
13-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Former Wimbledon champion reveals she's been cycling to Queen's on LIME BIKE after her car was stolen
HEATHER WATSON has been using an electric Lime bike to travel to a new tennis event in south-west London – after being driven mad by a stolen car saga. A first WTA tournament at Queen's Club in Baron's Court since 1973 works well for Watson because it is only a 10-minute cycle ride from her flat. Advertisement 4 Heather Watson revealed she had her car nicked Credit: Getty 4 She won the mixed doubles at Wimbledon back in 2016 Credit: Simon Jones - The Sun 4 She has been riding a Lime Bike to Queen's this year Credit: PA 4 The tournament is a ten-minute cycle from her home Credit: Getty While some of her rivals will jump in official cars to and from the venue, the Her preference are the green-and-white Lime bikes, which can reach a top speed of 15mph and are easily accessible for anyone living in the capital. The Guernsey-born ace's Range Rover was nicked from an underground car park at her West London home on the night she belatedly celebrated her 31st birthday with friends. Advertisement READ MORE ON TENNIS It happened in the week before the grass-court season started and at the time, she said she was pulling her hair out dealing with a time-consuming insurance company. A tracking company told her the vehicle was gone and though it was eventually found by police – and taken to a Charlton car pound – her problems only started when it came to the 'ball-ache' of dealing with the insurance detail. On Thursday afternoon, qualifier Watson was on her bike out of the premises as she lost 6-4 6-2 to former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina. After that defeat, she revealed to the media why she was shunning cars, saying: '(Bikes) are my means of transport. Advertisement Most read in Sport Live Blog JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 'Since my car was stolen, and it's just been the bane of my life, I'm in the process of selling it. 'Still such a pain. Don't get a car. That's my advice. I'm a Lime biker through and through. 'It'll be the first time seeing him' - Olympic star Heather Watson reveals plans to watch Scottish footie hero boyfriend 'Rain or shine, I'm on my bike, that's how I get to the NTC (National Tennis Centre) every day. Advertisement 'That's how I got home yesterday from the site because it takes ten minutes. 'I love cycling, and I feel like it's kind of a type of meditation for me, as well. 'I just really enjoy being out in the fresh air cycling. It's a great warmup, about 20 minutes from where I live to the NTC, so it's perfect for me. 'I won't be getting another car. I'm a cyclist. They used to drive me crazy, but now I'm one of them, and I have a different perspective. Advertisement 'How was my car stolen? Oh, I won't bore you, but a couple years ago it got stolen. 'And it's just been breaking down ever since. Insurance? Biggest scam ever. They just try and rinse you. 'Yeah, disaster. I get discriminated against because I'm an athlete. So your prices are already….forget the cars. Not forever, but for now.' Watson is not the only sports star to be benefiting from Lime Bikes recently. Advertisement The England Test team took up the mode of transport ahead of the match against the West Indies.
The Sun
13-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Former Wimbledon champion reveals she's been cycling to Queen's on LIME BIKE after her car was stolen
HEATHER WATSON has been using an electric Lime bike to travel to a new tennis event in south-west London – after being driven mad by a stolen car saga. A first WTA tournament at Queen's Club in Baron's Court since 1973 works well for Watson because it is only a 10-minute cycle ride from her flat. 4 4 4 4 While some of her rivals will jump in official cars to and from the venue, the British No.7 prefers two wheels instead, a much greener mode of transportation. Her preference are the green-and-white Lime bikes, which can reach a top speed of 15mph and are easily accessible for anyone living in the capital. Watson – who won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title with Finn Henri Kontinen in 2016 – had her car stolen in the summer of 2023. The Guernsey-born ace's Range Rover was nicked from an underground car park at her West London home on the night she belatedly celebrated her 31st birthday with friends. It happened in the week before the grass-court season started and at the time, she said she was pulling her hair out dealing with a time-consuming insurance company. A tracking company told her the vehicle was gone and though it was eventually found by police – and taken to a Charlton car pound – her problems only started when it came to the 'ball-ache' of dealing with the insurance detail. On Thursday afternoon, qualifier Watson was on her bike out of the premises as she lost 6-4 6-2 to former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina. After that defeat, she revealed to the media why she was shunning cars, saying: '(Bikes) are my means of transport. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 'Since my car was stolen, and it's just been the bane of my life, I'm in the process of selling it. 'Still such a pain. Don't get a car. That's my advice. I'm a Lime biker through and through. 'It'll be the first time seeing him' - Olympic star Heather Watson reveals plans to watch Scottish footie hero boyfriend 'Rain or shine, I'm on my bike, that's how I get to the NTC (National Tennis Centre) every day. 'That's how I got home yesterday from the site because it takes ten minutes. 'I love cycling, and I feel like it's kind of a type of meditation for me, as well. 'I just really enjoy being out in the fresh air cycling. It's a great warmup, about 20 minutes from where I live to the NTC, so it's perfect for me. 'I won't be getting another car. I'm a cyclist. They used to drive me crazy, but now I'm one of them, and I have a different perspective. 'How was my car stolen? Oh, I won't bore you, but a couple years ago it got stolen. 'And it's just been breaking down ever since. Insurance? Biggest scam ever. They just try and rinse you. 'Yeah, disaster. I get discriminated against because I'm an athlete. So your prices are already….forget the cars. Not forever, but for now.' The England Test team took up the mode of .
