Home
Glenys Furness
Heather Watson in the third round of Wimbledon 2022, London, UK
Heather Watson in the third round of Wimbledon 2022, London, UK | (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Tennis | Challenger & ITF Round Up | Watson made final in ITF Calvi

Glenys Furness
Tennis

By Glenys Furness

  • Heather Watson made final in France
  • Brit defeated top seed in semi-final
  • Watson was fifth seed
CALVI, CORSICA, FRANCE – Heather Watson entered the ITF event and was the fifth seed. The Brit defeated the top seed en route to the final.

 

Browse the Britwatch Sports Amazon Page for our latest Tennis Equipment recommendations

 

Brit of the Week

Heather Watson dropped down to ITF level, looking for some wins. The Brit was the fifth seed in the event held in Corsica. In the first round, Watson drew Emma Lene. The French woman was no match for the Brit who dominated the first set. Lene tried to stay with the Brit, but Watson was too strong. The second set was even better for Watson who once again dominated, losing only one game in the set to move into the next round 6-2, 6-1.

The second round saw the fifth seed against Eudice Chong. The player from Hong Kong stayed close with the Brit in the first set, before Watson managed to break serve and move ahead. Chong however, re-grouped in the second set. Fighting hard it looked to be heading to a tiebreak. However, Chong broke right at the end to level the match. Watson dominated the final set and moved into the next round 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.

In the quarter-final Watson was against third seed Harriet Dart. The younger Brit got off to the better start, and broke the fifth seed serve to take the lead. However, Watson fought back in the second set, breaking Dart to level up the match. The final set once again saw Watson dominate and book a spot in the next round 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

The semi-final saw the Brit against the top seed Jessika Ponchet. With the crowd against her Watson managed to dominate the first set, as Ponchet struggled on serve. The second set, started the same way with Watson getting out to a 4-0 lead. Unfortunately, the top seed fought back and broke Watson and levelled up the match. At the start of the final set Watson was broken again, however, the Brit dug deep and managed to get over the line in the match booking a spot in the final 6-1, 5-7, 6-2.

In the final the Brit was against Italian second seed Lucrezia Stefanini. The Italian dominated the first set as Watson struggled to get into the game. The second set saw the Brit break early and take the set from Stefanini to level up the match. The final set saw Watson fight hard, but the Italian managed to secure the vital break of serve and lift the title 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

 

 

Challenger & ITF Round Up

Naiktha Bains was defeated by Lucrezia Stefanini in the quarter-final in Calvi 6-1, 6-3.

Ryan Peniston was defeated by Jakub Mensik in the first round in Ostrava 6-2, 6-3.

Alastair Gray was defeated by Evgeny Phillippov in the first round in Tbilisi 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Felix Gill was defeated by Mariano Tammaro in the first round in Santa Margherita di Pula 6-2, 6-4.

Charles Broom was defeated by Jaime Faria in the first round in Santa Margherita di Pula 6-2, 7-5.

Abigail Amos was defeated by Marie Mettraux in the quarter-final in Telde 6-2, 6-2.

Yuriko Lily Miyazaki was defeated by Renata Zarazua in the first round in Charlottesville 6-3, 6-1.

Katie Swan was defeated by Ekaterina Maklakova in the second round in Istanbul 6-2, 7-6(2).

Francesca Jones was defeated by Solana Sierra in the semi-final in Guayaquil 0-0 (RET).

Next Week Brits play in Madrid, Aix-en-Provence, Prague, Nottingham, Spain, Georgia, Tunisia, St Malo, Reus, USA, Germany, Japan, Czech Republic & Cyprus.