Britain’s Heather Watson Wins A Pro Event

Written by: Staff on 15th October 2012

Britain’s Heather Watson Wins A Pro Event

epa03371363 Heather Watson of Great Britain hits a return to Na Li of China on the first day of the 2012 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 27 August 2012. The US Open runs through Sunday 09 September 2012. EPA/LARRY W. SMITH |

Barely a month after Andy Murray demanded a long overdue reprint of the British national tennis record books by becoming the first male Grand Slam champion for 76 years than Heather Watson stepped forward to ensure another by ending a 24 years long wait for a woman from the United Kingdom to win a WTA title.

The 20 year-old from Guernsey, won the HP Japan Open title in Osaka after saving four match points to beat Chinese Taipei’s Chang Kai-chen 7-5 5-7 7-6 and so become the first British singles champion to appear on the women’s tour’s honour role since Sara Gomer prevailed in Aptos, California in 1988.

Now Watson is playing a friendly tussle of ‘anything you can do, I can better’ with Laura Robson. Three weeks ago in the Chinese tournament at Guangzhou, Robson went close to winning that elusive title before fitness in excruciating heat and humidity proved her undoing.

The elements were a little kinder to Watson and the current world no.71, is likely to become the latest member of the world’s top 50 when new rankings are released tomorrow, came through a nervy tiebreak 7-4 to finally see off her 134th-ranked opponent.

Referring to her rivalry with Robson, the Osaka champion said: “When I see somebody doing well I always wants to do better. “I’ve been stepping up and really playing aggressive.

“Every part of my game – my serving, my forehands, my backhands – is working. Normally my backhand is my go-to shot, but this week my forehand has been on fire. And I’ve been coming into the net a bit more than usual.”

Watson concluded by saying: “British tennis in general is doing so well at the moment, with Andy winning the gold at the Olympics and the U.S. Open and also Johanna Konta qualifying at the US Open before winning her first round match. Really it is quite amazing at the moment. I just hope it continues.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Andy Murray, British tennis news, Chang Kai-Chen, Heather Watson, HP Japan Open, Sports, WTA tennis news