Watson eases through qualifier

THE Heather Watson summer tour has rolled into Austria. After excelling at Junior Wimbledon two weeks ago, the 16-year-old Sarnian tennis star was next in action at the German Junior Open.

In the grade one ITF event in Essen last week, Watson and Anastasiya Mukhametova reached the semi-finals of the doubles. But unfortunately for Watson and her Russian partner, they were denied making the final when they came undone against Katarena Paliivets and Kim-Alena Twelker 6-1, 6-1.

Now in Austria for the 14th Junior Open der Stadt Wels, another grade one ITF event, she seems to have put the disappointment behind her and has made it through the weekend's qualifiers for the main draw.

She is expected to be in action again today for the first round of the main competition. Thanks to her successes so far this summer, her world under-18 ranking has leapt from 227 to 125.