Watson breaks with routine

HEATHER WATSON is joining a strong British contingent at the fifth annual Tangipahoa Women's ITF $25,000 Pro Tennis Tournament in Hammond, Louisiana.

The 17-year-old local tennis star has broken into the world's top 500 players and is currently ranked 486, which makes her number 13 in Great Britain.

The 2009 US Junior Open champion is taking part in the Hammond futures tournament, which gets under way on Monday at the Oak Knoll Country Club alongside fellow Brits Melanie South and Georgie Stoop, who are both in the top five in the country.

They are being overseen at the competition by top LTA coach Billy Wilkinson.

'He was very keen to get Heather there,' said Watson's father, Ian. 'It's for bonding and for getting the girls to know each other better.'

Watson, who receives support from Sportingbet, has already had experience of being involved with the British team.

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