TOKYO: Heather Watson became the first Briton to win a WTA singles title in 24 years after she fought back from match point down to beat Taiwan’s Chang Kai-chen 7-5, 5-7, 7-6 in the final of the Japan Open yesterday.
The British number two succeeded where Laura Robson had failed in Guangzhou last month to become the country’s first winner on the women’s tour since Sara Gomer in 1988.
“It’s just starting to sink in,” Watson told reporters after a thrilling final in Osaka.
“I’ve worked so hard for this moment. That’s why I practiced so hard, ran all those miles, lifted all those weights - for moments like this. Britain has been breaking quite a few records recently,” added Watson, inspired by Andy Murray’s US Open victory last month that ended a 76-year wait for a British grand slam men’s singles winner.
“I’m happy I could break another one today. I’m proud to do this for my country.”
The Bollettieri-trained Watson did it the hard way, surviving four match points at 5-4 down in the third set. Watson, ranked 71 in the world, came through a nervy tiebreak 7-4 to finally see off her 134th-ranked opponent in a tense end to the final of the $220,000 hardcourt event. REUTERS
