One of the biggest surprises of 2020 so far was at the European Women’s Team Championship when the Scottish ladies scored a dramatic 3-0 win over number two seeds Russia. Julie MacPherson shares her experience of that amazing achievement.

On this day, Julie MacPherson saw her team race to a 2-0 lead, with Kirsty Gilmour defeating Evgeniya Kosetskaya in three games, and then Rachel Sugden dispatching Natalia Perminova in two. With just one more win to take the match, Julie MacPherson, 22, who had not played singles for a number of years, stepped up against the European U17 women’s singles champion, Mariia Golubeva. Losing the opening game, MacPherson then turned it around and did not look back until the final point which secured Scotland’s first-ever medal at the event. Sharing the emotion felt at that moment, MacPherson says. 

- It was a bit of a shock to me as well! I was not expecting to play singles throughout the team event as we had already got three singles players in our team. However, I was put in very last minute to play against Russia as one of our singles players had taken ill and I had more singles experience in the past out of the doubles girls. It took me a while to get used to the singles again but managed to secure the win and the medal which was an amazing achievement for our team and such a proud moment.

After such a stellar singles performance, MacPherson clarifies her position on this category now. 

- I do not think you'll see me on the singles court again anytime soon, but I will always be back up in a team event if needed!

In a good place

MacPherson made great progress in mixed doubles last season with partner Adam Hall, reaching 60 in the world. However, this year we have seen her ramp up her women’s doubles too. Commenting on this, she says. 

- I have enjoyed playing women’s doubles more lately. Last season I focused more on the mixed doubles, so it is nice going to tournaments now and playing two events. I have always really enjoyed playing women’s doubles, so I really like playing it more and playing with Ciara Torrance.

Lastly, now playing two categories, and being in a good place, MacPherson touches on her main focuses in the future.

- It is to try and get a higher ranking as we are a relatively new pair. We would obviously like to get into the same tournaments as our mixed doubles partners, Adam (Hall) and Alex (Dunn), as they are doing very well at the moment, and have the chance to play two events and gain more experience as a pair.