BREAKING: Just Stop Oil Disrupt @Wimbledon
— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) July 5, 2023
“Once more, orange clouds hang over a British sporting event this summer—this time it’s ticker tape rather than paint dust, but it is an intrusion and will need sorting out.”
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Just Stop Oil protestors threw confetti around Court 18 as Grigor Dimitrov served against Sho Shimabukuro in their first set. Dimitrov won their match 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 after play was able to resume.
The protestors disrupted further matches but wildcard Watson’s match was on No. 1 Court and went ahead unaffected.
Currently ranked 144th in the world to Krejcikova’s 11th – Watson was looking to follow up her fourth round progress last year, but it wasn’t to be.
That had been the British number five’s best run at the All England Club, but this time round she came unstuck at the hands of the former French Open winner.
Pictured: By Zac Goodwin PA Wire.
Speaking after the defeat, Watson said she was delighted to discover that Barker – who had been the lead anchor of the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage for 30 years – had been watching her from the stands.
“No, I didn’t know. I only look at my box really and there was one young girl on that opposite side that I just, I don’t know, I kept hearing her, so I started fist pumping to her, using her energy, as well,” Watson said.
“I didn’t know Sue was there, but I absolutely adore her. She’s such an amazing person.
“I didn’t know, but I love her. I admire her so much. I think she’s absolutely brilliant. She’s someone I really look up to.
“Yeah, she’s so supportive of me. She sends me messages during the year in support. I’m really grateful for that. I will text her now.”
Watson had reached the fourth round for the first time last year where she lost 2-6 4-6 to Jule Niemeier, but it did not earn her any ranking points because of the tournament being stripped of them in response of a decision to ban Russian and Belarussian players following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
They would have seen her gain automatic entry into other major tournaments, but instead Watson has been playing on the second-tier ITF Tour.
She had been in good form recently, having made the semi-finals of the Rothesay Open in Nottingham last month – but she acknowledged the Wimbledon draw was not kind to her.
Pictured: Zac Goodwin PA Wire.
“I feel like I was playing much better this year than I was last year. You know, it just happens with draws sometimes.
“On the day, yeah, she was much better today. She was really, really good. It’s disappointing, because I know how well I’m playing. But I need a little bit of luck along the way.
“I mean initially coming off the court, really upset. I felt deflated, disappointed. I look forward to these moments so much now.
“For it to be over in the first round, this is just not how I envisaged it, not what I want, but it was tough. It was always going to be a tough ask, tough match against, you know, 10th in the world, grand slam champion.”
Watson will also play in the mixed and ladies doubles. Her first round match alongside Harriet Dart was due to be played on Wednesday morning against No.7 seeds Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko. It is to be re-arranged following the delays to the earlier matches due to rain.
Pictured top: By Zac Goodwin PA Wire.