Watson eases through qualifier

By Aaron Scoones

THE Heather Watson summer tour has rolled into Austria. After excelling at Junior Wimbledon two weeks ago, the 16-year-old Sarnian tennis star was next in action at the German Junior Open.

In the grade one ITF event in Essen last week, Watson and Anastasiya Mukhametova reached the semi-finals of the doubles. But unfortunately for Watson and her Russian partner, they were denied making the final when they came undone against Katarena Paliivets and Kim-Alena Twelker 6-1, 6-1.

However, Paliivets and Twelker failed to lift the title in the final because they lost to Czech pair Klara Koprivova and Tereza Vancurova.

Watson feels she had a disappointing time in Germany as she also crashed out of the first round of the singles to German Lena-Marie Hofmann.

Now in Austria for the 14th Junior Open der Stadt Wels, another grade one ITF event, she seems to have put the disappointment behind her and has made it through the weekend’s qualifiers for the main draw.

Named as the number three seed, Watson received a bye in the first round of the qualifying draw.

She then had few problems taking care of Verena Lukas of Germany 6-0, 6-1 in the second round.

Next up against Slovakian Ursa Jerman, Watson took the honours 6-3, 6-1.

‘She’s done really well to qualify,’ said her mother, Michelle Watson.

Watson jnr is expected to be in action again today for the first round of the main competition.

Thanks to her successes so far this summer, her world under-18 ranking has leapt from 227 to 125.

Article posted on 15th July, 2008 - 2.29pm

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