Watson takes WTA Tour title

Oct 14 2012

Heather Watson became the first Briton to win a WTA Tour singles title in 24 years by winning a marathon match against Chang Kai-chen of Chinese Taipei in the final of the HP Open in Osaka.

The 20-year-old from Guernsey looked to have thrown her way her chance of victory when, having served for the match at 5-3 in the second set, fell a break down and faced match point in the decider.

But she showed plenty of fighting spirit to break back before finally clinching a 7-5 5-7 7-6 (7/4) win in three hours 11 minutes.

Watson's win means she has followed in the footsteps of Sara Gomer, the last British winner of a singles title on the WTA Tour in California in 1988.