HEATHER WATSON is on course to fulfil her dream and turn professional in just a matter of weeks.
Moreover, Ian Watson, her father, said yesterday that his daughter is hoping to sign with leading sport management company, IMG, who own the Bollettieri academy, when she returns to the USA after Barnstaple.
IMG, set up by the legendary sports agent, the late Mark McCormack, represents top tennis players such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova and a number of other world famous sportsmen and women including Tiger Woods.
‘If it all goes to plan, she will sign with IMG when she gets back to Florida,’ said Watson senior.
‘Nick Bollettieri has got a network unsurpassed, especially in America but worldwide in tennis and IMG are the biggest management agents.
They can open tournament doors for Heather because some tournaments are not easy to get in and, if you can’t get into them, you can’t win them. Lots of doors will be opened as soon as she signs with IMG and, of course, in Europe and the UK given her standing now the Lawn Tennis Association are opening those doors.
‘The LTA have given her a wildcard into Barnstaple.’
The Guernsey-born Watson set the tennis world alight last month when she won the US Junior Open.The 17-year-old’s father said that she had planned to play college tennis in the United States.
However, she changed her mind after her success at Flushing Meadow and after receiving advice from the Lawn Tennis Association.
‘Her mind set has changed to wanting 100% a professional career,’ said Watson senior.
‘It seems the obvious thing to do now. She’s got a belief she can get to the top.’
The rising star trains at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, Bradenton, Florida and is a student at the local Pendleton High School where she still wants to graduate with top grades next year.
Watson, meanwhile, is in the UK this week for the Aegon Pro Series $50,000 tournament in Barnstaple, Devon.
Watson junior has been splashed all over the international media following her Grand Slam victory.
She went into the US Open as 11th seed in the girls’ tournament. But she got the better of Yana Buchina 6-4 6-1 in the final to claim the title.
The Russian had defeated British sensation Laura Robson, who as a 14-year-old won Junior Wimbledon in 2008.
The media attention has been so much that Heather was due to go on to court today at Barnstaple, but the tournament director has had to re-arrange her first round match to 10am tomorrow morning.
She will play number two seed and Britain number three, Melanie South.
The 25-year-old from Surrey is also ranked 143 in the world.
The media attention is expected to go up as well because Watson senior announced that Heather will partner Robson in the doubles. They meet South and Sarah Borwell in the opening round.
She is meeting with the powers that be at the LTA next week to decide on what tournaments she will enter in the near future. She could take part in the Aegon Pro Series $25,000 tournament in Glasgow which gets under way on 19 October or she could return to the USA for an event there.
Article posted on 6th October, 2009 - 2.30pm
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