Watson to follow in Sharapova's footsteps

HEATHER WATSON has a golden opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova. But her parents, Ian and Michelle, are keeping the Guernsey starlet as free from pressure as possible.

Sharapova, the 17-year-old Russian, exploded into the spotlight by defeating world number one Serena Williams in the women's singles final.

She is the latest champion product of the Nick Bollettieri tennis academy in Florida, where Watson will take her place this August.

However, Mr Watson knows that the family should be both hopeful and realistic.

'We don't want to put any pressure on Heather; there is no point setting her unattainable targets. She will, I am sure, play to the best of her ability and we are more than happy with that,' he said yesterday.

Since the photo-friendly Russian's win, media attention has turned firmly onto the 72-year-old former air force pilot and the exceptional school he founded in 1978.

Naturally, with Watson having been accepted in the latest intake of tennis proteges, some of the attention has turned to the 12-year-old Ladies' College pupil.

'Loads has happened since she was accepted. Just the other day we had the national BBC cameras across filming Heather for a programme called In The Know,' said Mr Watson.

It is inevitable that Heather makes the news: she will be following not only Sharapova but Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Monica Seles, Pete Sampras, Mary Pierce and Anna Kournikova into Bollettieri and his staff's tutelage.

Miles Kasiri, the first Briton to reach the final of the Wimbledon boys' singles for more than 30 years, left home in Ramsgate as a 14-year-old to attend Bollettieri's academy.

He put his success down to the staff there, saying: 'They are not afraid to hurt you or push you into something. The work ethic came from them; now it is down to me.'

Bollettieri, a keen publicist of his academy's work, has also offered help to the LTA in bringing through the best British youngsters and helping to coach the coaches.

That has grabbed headlines at a time when the LTA has set aside almost £40m. for the construction of a new National Tennis Centre in Roehampton that is due to open in 2006.

However, not all the press has been positive. The Guardian's G2 section carried a tough article this week on the work ethic Bollettieri imposes at his IMG Academy in Bradenton.

He was called 'the most controversial coach in tennis', his methods of producing 'one-dimensional grinders' was criticised and the breakdown in his relationships with Agassi and Seles was highlighted.

Mr Watson defended the academy.

'I am amazed at that article because from what we saw it is just not true. He wants people to achieve their potential; winning or losing doesn't matter as long as players have given all they have.

'Through hard work and dedication he will get people to push back their personal limits.

'At least Heather will know just how good she is. When Michelle and I were discussing whether to apply, we said that the one thing that we could not have handled is if Heather had said: ?If only you'd let me go to Bollettieri when I was 12.? '

Mr Watson was quick to thank all those who have wished the family luck and success.

'We had told our friends but the Guernsey Press article was excellent and we had so many people coming up to us to congratulate us. We have heard nothing but good things.

'The timing, in hindsight, could not have been better, because after Sharapova's win, there are going to be so many British families wanting to send their children over to the Bollettieri academy.

'It is a conveyor belt of success that just keeps coming. They have a ratio of one coach to every five children for four hours every day: that is fantastic, you can't help but improve.'

He said that Heather knew just what was expected of her and every academy member.

'If you don't work hard and keep clear of drink, drugs and cigarettes, there is always the threat of expulsion.

'It is not rocket science: the Bollettieri creed is that mental strength is as important as physical strength. And you achieve mental strength by knowing that you are fit and well-prepared.'

Heather was unavailable yesterday: it was speech day, her last day at Ladies' College. She will miss her school friends but has taken digital pictures of her class mates which she has printed and stuck in a book which she will take to Florida.

Passages in that book underline how well liked she is at school and how fondly she will look back on her time there.

'I am going to miss all my school friends very much,' she wrote on one page, 'especially Jody, Mel, Lydia and Emma.'

He classmates have all drawn around their hands and written messages of support.

Though there is always the possibility of Heather suffering from homesickness, the Watsons are confident that their daughter will be able to cope.

'There's no fears about her diet, schooling, security or safety, though.

'There's never been an incident, no crime, nothing.

'We have a web cam set up and broadband and when she goes out in August, she'll have the same out there so we'll be able to keep in touch not only by e-mail, but also actually being able to see each other.'