World No. 1 leads the tributes to Watson

HEATHER WATSON was the darling of the British media yesterday after ending the wait for a British winner of a WTA tour ranking event.

The 20-year-old Guernsey girl arrives back this week for a short visit after winning the HP Japan Open in Osaka, the first Brit to win such an event since 1988.

As well as regaining her status as British number one and breaking the world's top-50 for the first time, which was her aim for 2012, she featured prominently in the national papers.

The Times devoted four pages to Watson, including a page three news feature, a back page picture and a double-page report.

In it, she received praise from world number one Victoria Azarenka, who thrashed Watson twice earlier in the year, the Sarnian winning just three games against the Belarussian in four sets.