HEATHER WATSON has helped Great Britain to qualify for the junior Fed Cup.
Representing GB at the under-16 European Summer Cup finals in Leysin, Switzerland, the 16-year-old Sarnian won her singles and doubles match with Tara Moore against Romania yesterday.
The victory saw them progress through to the semi-finals, but more importantly it ensured that they will now face the best U-16 tennis teams in the world at the junior Fed Cup next month in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
‘I’m really excited and pleased,’ said Watson. ‘We’re going to do well for our country.’
Watson, Moore and Jennifer Ren made it to the Summer Cup finals last week when they won a qualifying event in Queenswood, Hertfordshire.
They had defeated reigning European champions The Netherlands in the final.
The result led them to be seeded third for the finals, with Belarus number one, Hungary second and Poland fourth.
Up against unseeded Romania, Watson was first on court to take on Ingrid-Alexandra Radu, 15, who is ranked more than 200 places beneath Watson on 284.
Watson is 83rd in the world.
The ambidextrous Radu, who plays double handed on both sides, took the first set 6-4 despite her lower ranking.
However, Watson rallied back to win the next two sets 6-3, 6-2 and the match.
Next up, Moore went down to her Romanian opponent Christina Dinu 2-6, 6-4, 5-7.
With all to play for in the doubles, the British pair were put on the back foot when they lost the opening set 4-6.
But again Watson showed resolve and she and Moore claimed the next set 6-2 and then the decider 6-3.
‘It was quite difficult conditions,’ said Watson.
‘The courts were very slippery. We just had to battle it out.
‘We’re so happy to be in the final four.’
In today’s semi-finals, Britain face Serbia, who produced a shock yesterday when they defeated top seeds Belarus.
Article posted on 5th August, 2008 - 2.30pm
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