Watson steamrollers her way into final

JUST as Boris Becker at Wimbledon in 1985 and Goran Ivanesevic many years later, Heather Watson is proving you don't need to be seeded to win a major tennis tournament. The 15-year-old Guernsey starlet is through to her first national under-16 singles final after another crushing win in Bournemouth yesterday.

On Wednesday she dropped just three games to dispense with number two seed Samantha Vickers, yesterday it was just four as she demolished the fourth seed, Notting-hamshire's Jocelyn Rae, 6-2, 6-2.

'She played out of her skin. Played a fabulous match,' was the excited verdict of Watson's mother, Michelle.

Rae was never allowed to find any rhythm or confidence and was steamrollered out of the competition.

For Watson, who won the national under-14 championship last season and, at her first attempt, stormed into the last four of the under-18s last week, the victory further validated the decision to quit a normal Guernsey education for one developing a tennis career at the Bollettieri Academy in Florida.

'In the first set I went four-love up, but in the second she won her games early on,' said the victorious Guern-sey girl.

With that result in the back of her mind, Watson said she had expected a 'very difficult match'.

'But I adapted well.'

Conditions were again overcast and windy as the players took to the West Hants LTC's American-style clay court at 11am.

The match was all over in an hour and next up for Watson is top seed Laura Slater of Surrey.

Watson said she was confident of beating a player she has played and beaten once previously, at the national under-14s three years ago.

'I'm very confident and moving to the ball well, retrieving a lot of good shots.'

Off court, players' parents have been receiving expert advice from the Lawn Tennis Association's competition team and today Judy Murray, the mother of British number one Andy, will be at the south-coast venue to talk to mums and dads on what they need to know as a parent of a potential tennis star.