Watson And Robson Honored In London

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 9th November 2012

Watson And Robson Honored In London

epa03409470 Heather Watson of Britain returns a forehand against world ranking number two Maria Sharapova of Russia during the second round match of the Pan Pacific Open tennis in Tokyo, Japan, 25 September 2012. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA |

Andy Murray’s Olympic and US Open titles have given tennis a far higher profile in British spot but the young female duo of Heather Watson and Laura Robson have also played a major role. So it was fitting the pair have been jointly named Young Sportswomen of the Year Award at the 2012 Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Awards

The duo were both honored at the Awards ceremony which took place at the Sunday Times offices on Thursday evening and saw Olympic heptathlon gold medalist Jessica Ennis won the Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year Award.

“It is really nice that we have been named as joint winners because we have a rivalry but we are also really friendly,” said 18 year-old Robson, the former Wimbledon girls champion who this year played in the main draw of all four Grand Slams for the first time.

Watson, a US Open junior champion, last month ended a 24 year title drought for British women on the WTA circuit when she won the HP Japan Open in Osaka. “We are both inspired by what Andy Murray has achieved this year and now we are both happy to show British women players can succeed as well.

“Right now we are both working very hard on our physical fitness to be ready for 2013 but to come out and receive a joint award like this is very nice and will motivate us to train ever harder in the morning.”

Meantime world no.3 Murray has laid down a template for the next generation of British male talent to follow. Leon Smith, the Lawn Tennis Association’s Head of Men’s and Women’s Tennis as well as Britain’s Davis Cup captain has just returned from the United States where he has been monitoring the trio of teenagers Kyle Edmund, Liam Broady and Luke Bambridge play in Futures event on American clay.

“I left with nothing but encouraging feelings about how they are as people, in terms of their commitment to the sport,” said Smith who saw Edmund win a first Futures title in Birmingham, Alabama while US Open junior finalist Broady reached the semi-finals in Pensacola, Florida.

“Sometimes British players have been accused of not wanting to go out on clay for long periods of time – these boys are prepared to do it, and they’re enjoying doing it.”