Watson reaches last eight in Orange Bowl

HEATHER WATSON led the British charge before bowing out to a top Belgian at one of the most prestigious events in world tennis. Competing at the 43rd Junior Orange Bowl International in Coral Gables, Florida, the Guernsey girl swept through two rounds of the main draw before losing 6-4, 6-2 to Belgian star Tamaryn Hendler.

The tournament attracts many of the best players in world age-group tennis and from an original entry list of 256, Watson, one of eight top seeds, matched that billing by making the quarters alongside two Americans, two Russians, a Czech, a Canadian and the Belgian who defeated her.

Having received a bye into the round of 64, Watson beat Dominique Harmath 6-0, 6-2 before disposing of Maria Bernandez 6-0, 6-0 to reach the last eight.

Watson's coach at the Bollettieri Academy, Percy Melzi, said that his protegee was developing nicely and had given a very good account of herself against Hendler, who has been at the academy three years.

'She's been playing great, aggressive tennis; counter-attacking well, attacking well and she's solid mentally. It's looking great,' said Melzi.

'She played a good match and there were a lot of deuces. The other girl had a lot more experience. She's played here before and I think that made a difference,' he added.

After her quarter-final defeat, Watson joined the subsidiary event to find the fifth-place winner overall and is homing on that honour after defeating Chichi Scholl 6-4, 6-3.

In the same consolation event is Tara Moore, the youngster who had won the Eddie Herr International earlier this month. She failed to reach the last 16 on this occasion.

The list of past Junior Orange Bowl finalists and winners reads like something of a who's who of professional tennis.

As recently as 1996 Justine Henin of Belgium won the title.

In 1986 Monica Seles lost in the final and before that Chris Evert lifted the trophy in 1967.

Kim Clijsters and Anna Kournikova have also appeared in a tournament considered to be one of the most important in junior tennis.