‘I knew I could but wasn’t sure I would’
Monday 14th September 2009, 11:30AM BST.
(Picture AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
HEATHER WATSON has become the first Briton to win the girls’ singles at the US Open.
The 17-year-old Guernsey star yesterday defeated Russian Yana Buchina 6-4, 6-1 in the final on Court Seven at Flushing Meadows, New York.
‘This is great. Andy Murray won it about five years ago and I’m so happy to be the first British girl to win it,’ she said.
‘I played better and better as the tournament went on. I’m just so happy as I really worked hard for this.
‘I fought for every point. I knew I could do it, but it was just a question of if I would do it.’
In her victory speech, the Sarnian also paid credit to her island, her parents and to Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida, where she studies.
‘Thank you to everyone, to the ball boys and girls, to the line judges, to the tournament – thank you,’ she said.
‘Thank you to my mum and my dad, Guernsey, Bollettieri – I’m so happy.’
The news of her achievement was immediately splashed all over the world’s media.
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Absolutely brilliant performance yesterday and indeed throughout the tournament. Well done Heather! The whole Island is very proud of you.
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Absolutely DavidG – Well done Heather! what an outstanding achievment!
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Amazing.have been watching the US open in South Africa and for Heather to win the Junior Title is a credit to her and her parents!! Well done!!
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Absolutely fantastic performance, as a keen tennis fan I followed your progress throughout the competition, you should be very proud of what you have achieved you don’t win competitions of that magnitude without sheer hard work and self belief.
Every best wish for your future in tennis.
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Fantastic and no mean achievement.
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Congratulations Heather. I’m sure you have made your parents very proud of you.
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Heather my warmest and heartfelt congratulations on what can only be described as a phenomenal achievement, it is quite astonishing what can be achieved by the youngsters of Guernsey in the field of competitive sport, I hope you go on to even greater things and you already know that Guernsey has taken you to its heart. Good luck for the future.
Deputy Dave Jones.
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A great achievement for her. I guess Guernsey may bask in her reflected glory.
However I wonder in what sense Britain is involved, looking back at the opening sentence: “HEATHER WATSON has become the first Briton to win the girls’ singles at the US Open.”
Just asking.
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David – she is a Briton. What more is there to say? It wouldn’t sound half as good to say “first Guernsey girl to win the US Open” would it?
A fantastic achievement.
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David Cranch
The UK media seem to have put the Guernsey connection to the forefront of this young girls fantastic performance.
It is good to see a performance that was the result of hard work and no mean ability.
Glad to see the Bailiff is ensuring Heather has a good reception when she returns to Guernsey.
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