Watson defeats top UK players

HEATHER WATSON reached the semi-finals of the LTA's under-16s Summer Clay Court Series tournament despite being one of the youngest in the field. The UK's top 16 players in the age group took part at Queenswood School in Hertfordshire and to get so far was a great achievement for the girl who studies at the famous Nick Bollettieri Academy in Florida, as she is only 14.

To reach as far as she did, Watson defeated her nemesis and the top ranked under-14 in the UK, Jennifer Ren.

'Overall she can look back at it and gain a lot of confidence from it,' said Watson's training partner and Guernsey captain Jo Robinson.

'The LTA must have taken notice.'

In the first round, the Guernsey girl defeated Ren in straight sets 6-1, 6-1 and in the quarter-finals Watson lost the first set 1-6 to Aimee Jarret, who is ranked four in the UK in the under-16 age group.

But she turned this around in the second as she beat Jarret 6-2 and due to rain, the third set was decided by a championship tie-break which Watson won 11-9.

In the semi-finals Watson continued her fine form as she grabbed the first set against Sam Vickers, 6-1.

Watson then found herself 5-1 up against her 15-year-old opponent from Lincolnshire in the second.

But she failed to capitalise on this as she let three match points go as Vickers came back to take the set 7-6 and then the third 6-3.

Watson's acceptance into the tournament sees her qualify for the under-18s national championships in August. She has also gained entry to the International Tennis Federation's under-18 tournament in Edin-burgh the week after next.