Heather Watson punishes herself by reading Twitter comments

LONDON (AP) After a bad loss, Heather Watson sometimes punishes herself by reading hateful comments posted on Twitter. Watson, who lost in the first round at

LONDON (AP) After a bad loss, Heather Watson sometimes punishes herself by reading hateful comments posted on Twitter.

Watson, who lost in the first round at Wimbledon on Thursday, said she goes on social media to read some of the nasty things people write about her as a means of punishing herself.

''There's always going to be people saying stuff,'' said Watson, who lost to Annika Beck of Germany 3-6, 6-0, 12-10 in a match that took two days to complete because of rain. ''It comes with it. You've just got to deal with it.

''They're not brave enough to say it in person. That's why they hide behind a computer.''

Watson has been one of Britain's top female players for the past few years. She has twice reached the third round at Wimbledon, including last year, as she tries to become the first British woman to win the title at the All England Club since Virginia Wade in 1977.

Watson also admonished those who say bad things to her because they may have lost money betting on her to win.

''I don't know why they bet on us because our results are all over the place,'' Watson said. ''First of all, that's not very smart from them.''