Watson goes down to Wimbledon finalist at Flushing Meadow

HEATHER WATSON crashed out of the second round of the US Junior Open yesterday at the hands of the losing Junior Wimbledon finalist, Noppowan Lertcheewakarn.

The 16-year-old Guernsey star traded games with her Thai opponent, who is the world number four, but ended up going down 6-4, 6-4 at Flushing Meadow, New York. Watson had led in both sets.

Lertcheewakarn, 16, was in the news earlier this summer when she was defeated by 14-year-old British rising star Laura Robson at Wimbledon.

Watson had made the second round of the US Open after defeating Grace Min and Nicha Lertpitaksinchai in the qualifiers and then American Lauren McHale in the opening round.

She now travels to Florida to the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, where she is a student, before getting ready to represent Great Britain at the Junior Fed Cup later this month in Mexico.