HEATHER WATSON turned on the power to defeat former junior British star Nick Crawley on Saturday.
The 16-year-old Sarnian, taking part in an exhibition match organised by her main sponsor Sportingbet, came from a set behind to win on a championship tiebreak.
More than 480 people were in the specially-erected stands at King’s Life to watch her play at home for the first time in more than four years.
Her trademark booming ground shots laid the foundations for the victory.
‘It was pretty tough,’ said Watson afterwards. ‘He played well.
‘It was really good fun and it’s great to play in front of my home crowd.’
Each player held their serve until the 24-year-old Crawley broke Watson’s in the sixth game.
He went on to take the first set 6-3.
In the nature of the match, Crawley eased back in the second set and even found time to play some between the legs shots when chasing back for lobs.
But the smiling assassin Watson kept displaying her power as she hit some particularly venomous forehands that were inch perfect inside the base line.
The Commonwealth Youth Games gold medallist won the second set 6-3.
If Crawley had been going easy, he was certainly not holding back in the deciding championship tiebreak as he let rip.
But Watson showed she has a serious streak behind her smile and with the chants of support from the crowd ringing in her ears, she kept punishing Crawley with her forehand and backhand passes.
She claimed the tiebreak 9-5 and the match.
The crowd gave her a thoroughly deserved standing ovation at the end.
Crawley, who has not played properly in two or three years, looked visibly shattered afterwards.
‘I’ve had a few hits, but nothing like that,’ he said.
‘After the first four games, I asked Andy [Fisher, Watson’s coach and umpire of the match], if we could play just one set.
‘It was hard but good fun.’Sportingbet Exhibition Match: Home favourite comes from behind to overcome opponent
Article posted on 6th April, 2009 - 2.29pm
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