This Is Guernsey

By Aaron Scoones

Heather Watson, right, and girls’ doubles partner Tara Moore. (Picture by Aaron Scoones, 0600867)

HEATHER WATSON has won her first match at Wimbledon.

The Sarnian and her partner Tara Moore had little problem overcoming Bistra Otashliyska of Bulgaria and Ukrainian Alyona Sotnikova in straight sets in the first round of Junior Wimbledon’s girls doubles.

It went some way to make up for Watson’s disappointment in losing to Zuzana Luknarova in Saturday’s opening round of the girls’ singles.

‘I’m really pleased,’ said Watson, 16. ‘We really wanted the doubles because we both lost in the first round of the singles. It makes up for Saturday a little but what would make it up more is if we keep winning.’

It was clear from the outset that Moore and Watson have played doubles together before. Briton Moore, who is ranked 117 in the world, is a little powerhouse of a player who complements Watson very well.

Watson is bullish about their chances.

‘I think we can definitely go all the way,’ she said. ‘We know each other’s games really well and work together well as a team. It depends on the day and who our opponents are, but we can do it. We just need to believe in ourselves.’

Playing on court four, which is right next to Centre Court, play was interrupted regularly due to ear-splitting cheers coming from the main arena as Andy Murray played Richard Gasquet.

But none of this bothered the British pair as they won the opening game with Watson serving before breaking Otashliyska’s serve to make it 2-0.

After putting down this marker they never looked back in the opening set as the power from their ground strokes and serves proved to be too much for their East European opponents.

They occasionally made life difficult for themselves when they made silly mistakes especially when volleying close to the net, but despite that they took the first set 6-3.

They lost the first game of the second set with the tall Otashliyska serving, but soon rallied to win three games on the bounce and again take the set 6-3.

They now await the winners of today’s match between Cindy Chala and Noppawan Lertchee-wakarn and Katarzyna Piter and Romana Tabakova.

Article posted on 1st July, 2008 - 2.29pm