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Glenys Furness
Heather Watson in the first round of the US Open, New York 2018
Heather Watson in the first round of the US Open, New York 2018 | (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)

Tennis | ATP Challenger & ITF Round-Up | Heather Watson claims the ITF Fukuoka title

Glenys Furness
Tennis

By Glenys Furness

  • Heather Watson claims ITF title in Japan
  • Second seed didn’t drop a set en route to the title
  • Ends a long run of disappointing form
FUKUOKA, JAPAN – Heather Watson entered the ITF event and was seeded second. Looking to end a long run of disappointing results the Brit didn’t drop a set.

 

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Brit of the Week

Heather Watson entered the ITF event in Fukuoka Japan and was seeded second. Having experienced a long disappointing run of form, Watson was hoping to gain some wins and some confidence. In the first round the Brit was up against Himeno Sakatsume. The Japanese was no match for Watson who strolled through dropping only three games. The seed moved into the next round in straight sets 6-2, 6-1.

The second round saw the seed against Leonie Küng. The Swiss could barely hold serve in the first set, and Watson took advantage breaking twice to take the lead. In the second set Küng fought back and held serve more, however it was the seed that managed to break through and take the match 6-2, 6-4.

In the quarter-final the Brit was against fifth En-Shuo Liang. The Taiwanese player struggled against Watson, with the seed securing an early break in the first set. The Brit was on the same kind of form in the second set and the fifth seed could do nothing to keep up. Ultimately Watson took the match in straight sets 6-2, 6-2.

The semi-final saw the Brit face the fourth seed Kristie Ahn. The American pushed Watson in the beginning of the match, however the second seed secured the break of serve to take the lead. In the second set the pair were very evenly matched, with the score level Ahn retired from the match meaning that Watson moved into the final in straight sets 6-3, 2-2 RET.

In the final Watson was against the top seed Zarina Diyas. The Kazakh proved to be the toughest opponent so far. Diyas and Watson stayed toe to toe in the first set and a tiebreak followed. The Brit dominated the breaker losing only one point. The second set was just as close, with neither Diyas or Watson giving an inch. Just like the first set a tiebreak ensued. The Brit once again took control and moved through easily to take the title, bringing an end to the title drought 7-6(1), 7-6(4).

 

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Challenger & ITF Round Up

Katy Dunne was defeated by Maddison Inglis in the first round in Fukuoka 4-3RET.

Naomi Broady was defeated by En-Shuo Liang in the second round in Fukuoka 6-3, 6-3.

James Ward was defeated by Gianluca Mager in the second round in Aix En Provence 7-6(4), 6-2.

Liam Broady was defeated by Ričardas Berankis in the second round in Busan 1-6, 7-6(7), 6-4.

Jay Clarke was defeated by Aleksandr Nedovyesov in the quarter-final in Shymkent 2-6, 7-5, 6-1.

Toby Martin was defeated by Filippo Moroni in the first round in Italy 6-1, 6-0.

Francesca Jones was defeated by Dasha Lopatetskaya in the first round in Rome 6-1, 6-1.

Katie Swan was defeated by Gabriela Cé in the quarter-final in Rome 6-2, 6-3.

Sarah Beth Grey was defeated by Lucie Wargnier in the first round in Obidos 7-5, 6-3.

Eden Silva was defeated by Jessica Ho in the first round in Obidos 6-3 RET.

Amanda Carreras was defeated by Susan Bandecchi in the second round in Obidos 7-5, 6-3.

Emily Webley-Smith was defeated by Urszula Radwańska in the semi-final in Obidos 6-3, 6-4.

Alexander Romay was defeated by Eduard Esteve Lobato in the first round in Spain 6-0, 6-1.

Luke Johnson was defeated by Pol Martin Tiffon in the first round in Spain 6-1, 6-4.

Emily Appleton was defeated by Nina Stojanović in the first round in Spain 7-6(5), 6-2.

Gabriella Taylor was defeated by Cristina Bucșa in the first round in Spain 4-2 RET.

Jodie Burrage was defeated by Despina Papamichail in the first round in Spain 6-2, 6-4.

Anna Popescu was defeated by Johana Markova in the first round in Croatia 6-0, 6-2.

Andrew Watson was defeated by José Olivares in the second round in Florida 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-1.

Llewelyn Bevan was defeated by Simon Ivanov in the first round in Bulgaria 6-0, 6-2.

Aidan McHugh was defeated by Jonas Trinker in the first round in Greece 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.

Brandon Murphy was defeated by Alexandros Skorilas in the second round in Greece 6-0, 6-4.

Alexander Jhun was defeated by Henry Craig in the second round in Greece 6-3, 7-5.

Lloyd Glasspool was defeated by Jonas Trinker in the quarter-final in Greece 6-4, 6-4.

Robert Carter was defeated by Ryan Peniston in the first round in Cancun 6-4, 6-0.

Isaac Stoute was defeated by Nicholas Bybel in the second round in Cancun 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-1.

Alexis Canter was defeated by David Fox in the second round in Cancun 6-4, 1-6, 7-5.

David Fox was defeated by Austin Rapp in the semi-final in Cancun 6-1, 6-1.

Ryan Peniston defeated Austin Rapp in the final in Cancun 6-4, 6-4.

Mason Recci was defeated by Aziz Dougaz in the second round in Tunisia 6-2, 6-1.

Shamael Chaudhry was defeated by Victor Vlad Cornea in the first round in Turkey 6-0, 6-2.

Darryl Hale was defeated by Muthu Senthilkumar in the first round in Uganda 6-1, 6-2.

Ryan Storrie was defeated by Eric Vanshelboim in the quarter-final in Uganda 7-6(4), 6-4.

Next week Brits play in Rome, France, Japan, Spain, Korea, Portugal, Singapore, Mexico, Sweden, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Smarkand, Gwangju, Greece, Kalmar & Kampala.

 

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