BOOKMAKERS are giving odds of 7/4 on Heather Watson finishing above Laura Robson in the end of the year world rankings.

The improved odds on the Guernsey woman re-establishing herself as British No. 1 come after a real gutsy effort was not quite enough for Watson as she lost a three-set thriller to Maria Sharapova at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo yesterday morning.

The 20-year-old took the first set off world number two and four-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova, but eventually lost out 7-6 (9/7), 3-6, 4-6 in an epic second-round contest.