Heather Watson features in episode 33 of Sky Sports' My Icon series
Thursday 2 November 2017 16:10, UK
Heather Watson admits she has faced gender-specific barriers during her tennis career.
Watson, whose mother hails from Papua New Guinea, was speaking about the people who have inspired her, as well as the challenges she has overcome on her tennis journey, in the final instalment of Sky Sports' My Icon series.
The 2016 Wimbledon mixed doubles champion has not faced race-related issues during her time in the sport, but backhanded remarks from her male counterparts have been far from infrequent.
"I wouldn't say in sport I have experienced anything [in terms of facing prejudice] to do with the colour of my skin," she says in a bonus episode of Sky Sports' My Icon series.
"I'd say as a woman playing I have definitely experienced quite a bit of it, especially from guys around me that also play the sport.
"The popular comment for them is to try and compare men and women and say that they're better and that they'd be the best in the world if they were playing in the women's game.
"But that's pretty irrelevant. Yes, I have experienced a bit but nothing too dramatic nothing too bad which is good."
Watson talks about her journey in the latest instalment of My Icon, which premieres on Wednesday at 7am on Sky Sports Mix and is available On Demand. The episode is repeated on Wednesday at 3pm and 8pm.
Coinciding with Black History Month, Sky Sports' #MyIcon campaign brings you 31 exclusive interviews with top BAME sports personalities across the month of October. For more information click here.
