Watson up for national awards as senior debut put on hold

HEATHER WATSON'S professional debut has been put on hold for the time being.

The 16-year-old Guernsey tennis star, who is based at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida, was due to play in the $25,000 Puebla Tournament in north Mexico beginning on the 17th of this month.

However, Watson is also down to take part in the ITF junior grade one event, the Yucatan World Cup, in the south of the country near Cancun, which starts on 24 November and it proved impossible to make both of the tournaments.

'She's concentrating on the juniors at the moment before Christmas,' said her father, Ian Watson (pictured).

'She was building up for it so I'm sure she'll be a bit disappointed, but she had to cancel one of these, so it was obvious to cancel the first one.'

Her coach, Percy Melzi, said last month that he expected Watson to feature on the WTA tour next year.