Watson gets GB call and first USTA title

HEATHER WATSON has celebrated a Great Britain call-up with her maiden USTA tournament win in Florida. The 12-year-old Guernsey star swept all before her in winning the Angela Maria Lopara Classic, surprising everybody but her new Peruvian coach, Percy Melzi.

'She's a great girl ... great to coach. I'm a lucky guy I guess,' said Melzi who has been responsible for her development since Watson moved to the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy a couple of months ago.

'She played really good,' said Melzi.

'She has got a lot of potential ... not bad for the first month-and-a-half here,' he added.

Even in a short time Melzi has made a few alterations to her technique.

'We've made a little change to her forehand and an adjustment on her backhand. There's more to come from her.'

That could spell bad news for her rivals on the United States Tennis Association state circuit.

According to her mother, Michelle, the youngster did not know what to expect ahead of the Lopera Classic where she was not among the top 10 seeds.

Having eased through to the quarter-finals, Watson faced the second seed, Carolyn Chupa, who was despatched 6-3, 6-2.

In the semis, the Guernsey star dropped two fewer games in sweeping aside the number four ranked player, Carolina Berry, and in the final she faced Alina Jerjomina.

Like Watson, unseeded, Jerjomina took the opening set 6-4, but the Sarnian hit back to take the next two 6-3 and claim the title.

'She's very happy with her win,' said her mother. 'Next time she will probably compete in the age-group above.'

Mrs Watson is delighted at how her daughter has settled into life at the celebrated academy.

'We believe more and more it was the right decision. She is really enjoying herself.'

Watson's next event is in Tampa on 6 November but further ahead she is looking forward to the Junior Orange Bowl a week before Christmas when she will be among a four-strong Great Britain team challenging for one of the most prestigious titles on the USTA circuit.

*THE three-day Channel Islands Indoor County Championships get underway at the Guernsey Tennis Centre at Longcamps this evening.

South African Pieter Theron, recently moved from Jersey to Guernsey, starts favourite for the men's singles title.