HEATHER WATSON has ‘broken through the ceiling’ with her heroics at the Australian Junior Open.

In treacherously hot conditions in Melbourne, the 16-year-old reached the quarter-finals in Melbourne before succumbing to the number three seed, Ksenia Pervak.

The Russian, who has turned out on the senior tour, has subsequently made it to the final to meet 15-year-old British wonder kid and last year’s Junior Wimbledon champion, Laura Robson.

Watson’s efforts has seen her splashed over the national media from the BBC Breakfast show, Radio Five Live, The Times, The Telegraph, and The Daily Mail, among others.

Her father, Ian, believes her career has gone up a notch this week.

‘She’s done well and it was a great start to 2009,’ he said.

‘She’s got a platform now to build on and she needs to start making the transition from juniors to seniors. She’s really established herself and she’s got believe that she can go onto bigger and better things.’