Proud dad Ian Watson catches up on the national newspaper stories after his daughter’s remarkable US Open success. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0842496)
THE top man in British tennis has backed Heather Watson to break into the world’s top 100, following her success at the US Open.
The 17-year-old Guernsey tennis star has been all over the national media after she defeated Yana Buchina 6-4, 6-1 in the girls’ singles final at Flushing Meadows on Sunday.
A picture of Watson holding the trophy while a receiving a kiss on the cheek from her proud mother Michelle appeared on page five of yesterday’s Guardian, under the headline ‘A star is born’.
Meanwhile, Lawn Tennis Association chief executive Roger Draper, in an interview with Sky Sports News, said that Watson and Laura Robson, who won Junior Wimbledon last year and made the US Open semi-finals, can ‘go a lot higher’.
Watson has already a senior tournament victory to her name – the $10k Aegon Pro-Series event in Frinton.
‘Both Laura and Heather have won their first senior events at a lower level which is a good step,’ said Draper. ‘Heather’s 764th on the world rankings, Laura’s a bit higher. There’s no reason they can’t go on to reach the top 100 at least.’
With both girls making the early steps in their careers, Draper believes it is important they make an impression in the senior game.
‘They know what they’ve got to do,’ he said. ‘Things happen a little bit quicker on the girls’ side to the boys’ side. The boys tend to [need] a longer transition to be a top-100 player.’
Draper pledged that the LTA would completely back Watson and the best junior talent.
‘Hopefully players like Heather and Laura, and some of our young junior boys who are coming through and will be playing at the US Open next year, will come through and be top 100 players like Andy Murray in the senior game,’ he said.
‘I think the future is looking bright for British tennis.’
Someone who has no doubts that Watson can make the step up into the senior game is the co-ordinator of junior tennis at St Martin’s Tennis Club, Geoff Martel.
‘I’m sure she will when I think how much she’s advanced in the last two years,’ he said.
‘She’s overcome everything put in front of her. She’s had some set- backs, but she seemed to be able to move on.
‘I think she’s got the mental and physical abilities to be able to do it.’
Another person who is sure that Watson can go on is Patrick Ogier.
The 22-year-old tennis player won the doubles gold and helped Guernsey claim the team gold in the 2009 Island Games in Aland this summer.
‘I do, she’s already won a futures event and she got to the semis of another one,’ he said.
‘She has all the right things for it. The only thing slightly against her, and I’m being harsh here, is that the average height of these female players is 6ft.
‘They are really quite extraordinary but Martina Hingis and Justine Henin weren’t that big. Heather can deal with it.
‘Also I spoke to Heather last night after she won and it was quite remarkable. You’d expect her to be going crazy but she was so relaxed about it all. I asked her if she was nervous and she said not at all.’
Ogier has just graduated from Nottingham University and he is going to spend the next year playing futures tournament and he is looking to attend a tennis academy in either the south of France or Barcelona.
He trained with Watson just before she left for America a couple of weeks ago.
They played every day for a week-and-a-half at Beau Sejour as the courts at the leisure centre were the closest in the island to the hard courts at Flushing Meadows.
‘It was really great and it really helped my game because she hits the ball so cleanly,’ he said.
‘I’m proud to know her and I’m grateful that she hit with me.’
Does Heather Watson’s US Open achievement make her the island’s most successful all-time sports woman? Sports editor Rob Batiste gives his verdict in page 46
Article posted on 15th September, 2009 - 2.30pm
Most Commented: