Guernsey Press

Watson and Maria make a winning pair

HEATHER WATSON has claimed her fourth doubles title on the WTA Tour.

Published
Heather Watson and Tatjana Maria (Germany) celebrate winning the women's doubles at the Mexican Open in Acapulco. (Picture from @Maria_Tatjana)

The Guernsey star joined forces with Germany’s Tatjana Maria to win the women’s doubles event at the Mexican Open in Acapulco at the weekend.

In their first tournament together, the new combination had to come through some tight matches before emerging triumphant, with three of their outings being decided on a championship tiebreak set.

They began with a 7-5, 4-6, 11-9 victory over Cornelia Lister of Sweden and Yana Sizikova of Russia before seeing off American Desirae Krawczyk and Mexican Giuliana Olmos in the second round 4-6, 6-4 10-3.

In the semi-finals they were up against the Spanish fourth seeds Lara Arruabarrena and Arantxa Parra Santonja, but it proved to be the most convincing win for Watson and Maria, who progressed 6-4, 6-1.

American duo Kaitlyn Christian and Sabrina Santamaria, the conquerors of the top seeds in an earlier round, were their opponents in the final and although Watson and Maria were pegged back after winning the first set, they came through the tiebreak in emphatic style to claim the title 7-5, 2-6, 10-2.