[Dawson.]

Nice win Heather great way to back up the double bagel in the previous round! Thanks for the report too, Chris84! Are you going later on in the week too?

[WIMBY]

Well done

[Chris 84]

Originally Posted by e5dawsonj

Nice win Heather great way to back up the double bagel in the previous round! Thanks for the report too, Chris84! Are you going later on in the week too?

yeah, i'll be around for the rest of the week i think....i might skip the weekend matches if noone interesting makes the semis

[Mforensic]

Heather lost her first round match in a tight 3-setter against Sfar.

[Chris 84]

Sfar won 6-2 2-6 7-6
Watson v Sfar was actually a very high quality match for this level. Sfar's style of play was very different to most players with her slice, netplay and even chipping and charging at times. Bizarrely she kept complaining about the fact that there were no ballboys, etc

I talked to Heather's mum during the match, and she really seemed nice. Some of the coaches, parents, etc seem a bit stand-offish with fans, but she seemed to enjoy the fact that people were actually cheering for Heather and she talked freely with me

[Dawson.]

Nice read:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chrisbeva...next_step.html

It seems the next 9 months or so are going to be pretty similar to now for Heather, then when she finishes high school she'll focus 100% on tennis.

Tough loss today too

[Wintermute]

Surprised no-one's posted that Heather's into round two of the Orange Bowl in Florida.

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. -- Kim Clijsters and Caroline Wozniacki weren’t anywhere near Crandon Park, but a pair of female finalists from the 2009 US Open opened Girls’ 18s play Monday at the Dunlop Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships. Reigning US Open junior champion Heather Watson and runner-up Yana Buchina each entertained an American wild card.

[...]

Hardebeck, a 15-year-old who won the USTA National Clay Court Championships in July, also tested her experienced opponent. With foot speed and a down-the-line backhand well beyond her years, the American earned five break points in the seventh game of the opening set.

But Watson washed away all five with versatile winners: two down-the-line backhands, an inside-out forehand, a backhand drop shot and unreturnable serve down the tee. Watson held for 5-2 with a crafty first-serve/drop-shot combination, showing striking improvement from the player she was just one year ago.

Watson’s 6-2, 6-2 win over Hardebeck was her first main-draw victory at an Orange Bowl event since 2005. She lost in the first round of the Girls’ 18s in 2008, Girls’ 16s in 2007 and Girls’ 14s in 2006.

“I don’t focus on winning as much any more,” said Watson. “I just focus on doing everything right, like my body language and technique. When I think about those things, I am taking pressure off myself and playing my best tennis.”

Now a Grand Slam champion, the girl from Guernsey, Great Britain, feels a little different in her second junior tournament since winning the US Open. And she’s not at all opposed to it.

“I’m definitely getting a lot more respect,” said Watson. “People are looking at me more, and I like it.”

dunloporangebowl.com

[Wintermute]

R2: Watson [3] def. Arshavskaya 6-2 6-2

Plays Zheng Saisai [13] next.

[NoChokes]

Think she's won that game too today.

[Wintermute]

Yes, tougher win. 6-1 3-6 6-3

She now plays Ajla Tomljanovic [6].

[Wintermute]

Ajla won 6-2 6-3

[Dawson.]

Bleehhhh Never mind Heather.

[serenus_2k8]

Heather will start the 2010 season at the Australian Open Juniors event, looking to capture her 2nd successive junior slam.

She will then play the 2 25ks in Aus, which is exciting I hope she starts her progression very well

[TeamUla]

[NoChokes]

Nice pics.

Who's the other girl?