Watson so close to national masters win

HEATHER WATSON came within a whisker of winning the National Grand Prix Masters. The Ladies' College pupil, 11, was beaten in two close sets in the final of the Ariel-sponsored 12-and-under tournament in Abingdon, Oxford, having fought through her first four matches.

To qualify for the prestigious event, which included the top 16 national 12-and-under players, Watson needed enough points from a series of pre-qualifying tournaments.

She proved her quality by beating four girls, three in straight sets, and going all the way to the final.

She was unlucky to lose a very tight encounter 4-6, 5-7 to Jennifer Ren, of Yorkshire.

Watson had chances to go ahead in both sets and had a set point in the second but it was not to be.

Her mother, Michelle, said: 'I felt that if Heather had converted that set point in the second set, she would probably have won the match because she was controlling most of the play and had her opponent on the rails throughout.'

Watson said: 'It was not one of my most consistent matches. I could have and should have won the match. I made too many unforced errors trying to force the play.'

The young Sarnian is renowned for her attacking play and hit a lot of winners, both backhand and forehand, throughout the two-hour-long match.

Her opponent was happy consistently to push the ball back into play and wait for Watson to make errors when going for the winners.

The match was watched by a number of former English champions, including Jo Durie and Mark Cox.

Carl Maes, the under-14 national performance director, was also watching and said: 'Heather's winning backhand down the line was the best I've seen throughout the tournament.'

Her father, Ian said: 'Heather's result in this tournament is all the more creditable in that she has had a very difficult winter since her coach left the island in November 2003.

'This was quite a severe blow in that, at this stage of her development, her coach plays a significant part.'

The void left by her coach has been filled by the older boys including Dominic McLuskey and Patrick Ogier and coaches and adults including Jo Robinson and Chris Chalmers.

Watson is very grateful to all those who have given time and energy to hit with her over the winter months.

She is firming up more and more on wanting to be a professional tennis player, but to keep at the 'top of the tree' nationally is becoming more difficult, especially with all the travelling.

'It would have been impossible to have got this far without the support of Ladies' College,' said Mrs Watson, 'so thanks to Miss MacDonald and all the staff there for their support.

'To continue to succeed and progress in a very competitive sport will at least need some very good coaching and connection with a sponsor. So 2004 could be a year of big decisions for Heather.'