HEATHER WATSON is the 2007 British under-16 champion, a year after landing the under-14 version. In a real rollercoaster of a final at the Ariel national championships in Bourne-mouth yesterday, the 15-year-old Sarnian got the better of top seed Laura Slater of Surrey, 6-1, 1-6, 6-1.

‘I had a good start, I was playing really attacking tennis,’ she said.

‘In the second set I made a lot more unforced errors but she was playing well and in the third set I was just more aggressive and I was hitting more winners. I played like I did in the first set.

‘The match point was a brilliant point. It was a really long rally then she hit a low slice and I hit one back, then I came up to the net and she hit one hard into my body and I hit a backhand volley to the other side.

‘I’m so happy.’

The final was played in front of a large crowd and under intense pressure. There was also one famous spectator who knows a bit about tennis – former British number one Greg Rusedski.

‘There were loads of people watching but I try not to look at the crowd so that I don’t get intimidated,’ said Watson.

‘Greg Rusedski was there and he congratulated me afterwards. He said very well done and he was looking at my trophy and he said he couldn’t hold it because he didn’t win it.

‘He said: ﾓThis is for a championﾔ.’

Another interested spectator was the top man in British tennis, the chief executive of the Lawn Tennis Association, Roger Draper.

‘Heather Watson has had an outstanding few weeks,’ he said.

‘She was unlucky not to win last week’s under-18s. She’s played some great tennis and has beaten some strong opposition.

‘Laura Slater is a great player. Particu-larly that first set was some of the best girls’ tennis we’ve seen here in probably a long time.

‘I think Heather’s an outstanding prospect.’

Watson, who trains at the famous Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida had gone into the competition unseeded and it wraps up a couple of successful weeks for her.

At last week’s under-18 nationals, she earned a pair of semi-final appearances and with her under-18s partner, Sian Bayliss, also made the semis of this week’s under-16s’ doubles.

Her father, Ian, unfortunately could not be at the tournament and was in Guernsey. He was naturally delighted when news of his daughter’s latest success was broken to him by the Guernsey Press.

‘I feel elated when you think she’s got to three semi-finals and won the under-16s singles title,’ he said.

‘She must have started as one of the favourites for the under-16s but even so she must have played well to win. It’s a lot of pressure for a 15-year-old girl with the crowd and all the photographers there.

‘I’m so proud of her. It’s the culmination of a superb summer.

‘I think she’s played about 33 singles matches and won 30. If she can keep this form going at Bollettieri’s, it bodes well for the future.

‘I think this summer she’s focused better and that’s probably to do with getting older.’