Heather Watson returns a shot to Yana Buchina, of Russia, during their junior girls’ final at the US Open yesterday in New York. (Picture by AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

IT WAS not just the fact that Heather Watson won the girls’ singles title at the US Open that was so impressive, it was the manner in which she did it.

The 17-year-old Sarnian defeated her doubles partner Yana Buchina in yesterday’s final at Flushing Meadows, New York, 6-4, 6-1.

In the process, she made history by becoming the first British player to win the US Open girls’ singles title since the junior tournament’s inception in 1973.

On her way to the final, she also defeated the world number two and this year’s Junior Wimbledon champion Noppawan Lertcheewakarn in the quarter-finals and Daria Gavrilova in the semi-finals.

Due to rain, both matches were played indoors on Saturday and Watson won both in straight sets.

‘I’m surprised how she won the quarters, the semis and the final against three very tough opponents in that they were all in two sets and by good scores,’ said her father, Ian.

‘She’s been through three tough matches there, but I did have a sense this week [that she would do it].

‘When I talked to her, she was 100% focused. She really wanted this.’