Watson making history

WHAT a difference a year has made for Heather Watson.

Twelve months ago the Guernsey girl melted the hearts of millions of TV viewers by bursting into tears during a live TV interview after losing in the first round of the Wimbledon singles, an elbow injury suffered during the match having left her barely able to serve.

This week there were only tears of joy as the 20-year-old cruised into the third round at the All England Club courtesy of two emphatic straight sets wins over Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic and, yesterday on court two, the American Jamie Lee Hampton, the former coming in the grand surroundings of the Centre Court.

In the process Watson became the first British woman since 2002 to progress so far at Wimbledon and by way of extra reward is 160 WTA ranking points and £39,000 better off.