Watson sweeps aside Russian

HEATHER WATSON beat both the top seed and one of Russia's brightest tennis hopes on the way to winning her third consecutive USTA-sanctioned tournament since moving to the Nick Bolletieri Tennis Academy in Florida, USA. Watson, 12, was playing up an age group this time when she won the under-14 girls' singles title in the Octoberfest Junior Tournament in Seminole, Florida.

En route to claiming the trophy, the outstanding Guernsey prospect beat the number-one seed, K. Mandry, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, in the quarter-finals, the number four, A. Solberg 6-3, 6-2 in the semis and the number-two seed, Russian A. Tatisheva

6-0, 6-2 in the final.

Watson was particularly pleased with the way she played the final.

'I wasn't happy with losing a set in an earlier round so in the final I wanted to control the play and cut out my unforced errors and the score line reflected my performance in that match,' she said.

Watson was also very happy with the style and quality of the trophy she won: 'The trophy reminds me of one of the vases at home in Guernsey.'

Watson's delighted father, Ian, said: 'She seems to have taken to life at the Bolletieri Academy like a duck to water. Winning these matches and tournaments is obviously helping.'

Watson is also enjoying the physical training, with her fitness being under continued review.

The Sports Medical Centre and Orthopedic Physical Therapy Unit at the campus are working with her in an effort to prevent injury. Her next regime is one to improve mobility in her hips and increase the strength in her calves, all to improve performance.

Since her move to the USA in late August, Watson has played 16 matches in three tournaments and won them all.