Heather Watson ends 24-year famine of the British women tennis in Japan – Tennis News
Latest entry into the Top-50’s category of the world rankings, Heather Watson, accomplished three goals with one victory on 14th October. She became the top ranked British player in the world rankings, leaving behind
the left-handed 18-year-old Laura Robson. She also ended the 24-year long famine by becoming the first women from Great Britain to clinch a premier Women Tennis Association title in more than two decades.
Her opponent from Taiwan, Kai-Chen Chang, didn’t surrender easily to the 20-year-old Briton. She lost the opening set 5-7 but bounced back to clinch the second phase 7-5. Stage was set for an epic battle and Watson saved four match
points en route to the last set final tie-breaker where she clinched the win 7-6(4).
After completing the conquest, Watson was thoroughly ecstatic and commented, “I was in the changing room afterwards, changing my clothes, and I thought to myself, 'Did I really win?' So it's just starting to settle in," Watson
said. "I've worked so hard for this moment my whole career - that's why I practiced so hard, ran all those miles and lifted all those weights, for moments like this.”
She further added, “Britain has been breaking quite a few records recently, so I'm happy I could break another one today. I'm proud to do this for my country."
Talking about her on-court rivalry with her best off-court friend, Watson said, “Laura and I have come through the rankings together - juniors and seniors - and we're both very competitive.”
So, now the battle between the two youngsters has reignited as the right-handed Watson has taken a big leap and broken into the Top-50 players before than her best friend Robson. Robson is just two ranks lower than her compatriot,
improving four spots from the last edition.
It has been a terrific season for the two top ranked British superstars who started outside the Top-100 category and hung on to their task of improving their ranking at an exponential pace. The sea-saw cold war continues between
the two athletes but no matter what happens, Watson will hold the record of becoming first women to win a title from her country in 24 years.
Tags: