Watson's a 'lucky loser'

ON THE same day a leading national bookmaker was giving odds of 6-1 of Heather Watson winning a Grand Slam by 2020, the Guernsey tennis star rode her luck to go through to the main draw of the $50,000 Tevlin Women's Challenger in Toronto.

These relatively short odds were given in light of her success in the 2009 US Junior Open in September, which also led to her turning professional.

Taking part in the prestigious event this week, Watson had won her first two matches in the qualifying competition quite convincingly.

In the opening round on Saturday, she defeated 24-year-old American Amanda Fink, 6-4, 6-2.

The Sarnian then went on to get the better of number three seed Petra Rampre on Sunday.

Watson beat the 29-year-old Slovenian, who is ranked 412 in the world, 6-1, 6-1.

But her run had seemed to end yesterday when, just one match away from the main event, she narrowly lost to Macall Harkins.

The 23-year-old American won the first set 7-5, before Watson, 17, bounced back to take the second 6-4.

But Harkins' greater experience in the deciding set showed, as she came through 6-4.

However, with two of the entrants for the main draw pulling out at the 11th hour, the Sarnian was handed a 'lucky loser' place.